m
m^m:
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PERKINS LIBRARY
Duke University
Kare Dooks
i
m
t^
Imprimatur ,
Vice-Cancell. Oxon.
fanumi x^
1675-
THE
Government
OF THE
TONGUE
F^rV-^v \ V'.\
--V-r.-.
U
n 'ihA/iL/i By the Author of c^ Irillt.
The Whole Duty of Man, &c.
^eath and Life are in the fower of the
Tongue ^ Prov. i8. xi.
The fourth Impreflion.
At the Theater in OxroRD,
M. DC. LXXV.
v» t ■>
^'-
^ i^ \.r
^
T H ^A^3^Q^
PREFACE.
H E Government of the
Tongue has ever bin juftly
reputed one of the moH im-
portant parts of human Re-
'The Philofopher and the
Divine equally atteH this ; and So-
lomon ( <who was both ) gives his fuf-
frage alfo ; theperjwajions to , (S^ enco-
miums of it taki?tg up a conjide-
rable part of bis hool^ of Proverbs.
J Jhall not therefore need to faj any
gtment.
a 2
thing,
The Preface*
thing , to j^ftifi^ wj choke of thk
fabjcB , ivhich hm fo much better
^Authorities to commend it : I ra-
ther mjh that it had not the fufer-
addition of an accidental jitnefs
grounded upon the univerfal negleB
of it 5 it now feeming fo be an art
wholly out-dated. For tho fome linea-
me?Jts of it may be met with in
hooks J jet there is fcarce any foot^
Heps of it in fraBice , where alone
it can be fignijicant, The attemt
therefore of re'vi'ving it I am fure
is feafonaUe , I wifh k were half as
eajj.
2. Lideed that skill wasnever'verj
eajy , it requiring the greateft 'vigi"
lance and caution , and therefore not
to he attain d by loofe trijling Jpi--
fits. The Tongue is fo flipfery^ that
it
The Preface.
it eafy deceaves a droujy or heedlefi
guard. Nature feems to ha've gwen
it fome U7ihaffy advantage towards
that. 'Tis in its frame the mofl ready
for motion of any member , needs not
fo much ^ the jiexure of a joint -, and
by accefs of humors acquires a gUbnefs
too 5 the more to facilitate its mo7ji?7g,
Ayid alas we too much find the effe3
of this its eafy frame : it often goes
mthout giving us warnings and as
children when they happen upon a
rolling engine , can fet it in fuch a
carrier e , m wifer people cannot on a
fudden flop ; fo the childifh parts of
us , our paffions , our fancies , all our
mere animal faculties , can thrufi
our tongues into fuch difordres , as our
reafon cannot eajily reBify. The due
managery therefore of this unruly
member y
The Preface.
member , may rightly be eft e erne d one
of the greatefi myfteries of JVifdom
and Vertue. ^Vhis is intimated by St.
James , If any man offend not in
word , the fame is a perfect man,
and able alfo to bridle the whole
body, Ja.3. 2. 'Tis ftoried of Bemho
a primitive Chriftian , that coming to
a frie'ad to teach him a Pfalm, he be-
gan to him the thirty fiinth , I faid
I will look to my waies , that
I offend not with my Tongue 3 upon
hearing of "ivhichjirft ^verfe , he ftopt his
Tutor ■) faying , This is enough for me^ if
I learn it as I ought ; a?id being af-
ter fix mo?iths rebu!(^d for not com-
rng again y he replied^ that he had
' not yet learnt his fir H leffon : nay af-
ter ninteen years he profesl , that in
that time he had fcarce lear?H to fuU
fit
The Preface.
jil that one line. I gi've not this in-
fiance to difcourage , hut rather to
quicken men to the fiudy , for a lejjon
that requires fo much time to learn ,
had need he early begun mth.
3. But e/pecially 'in this age ^
wherein the contrary liberty h^s got
fuch a prepojjeffion , that men lool^ on
it as a part of their birth-right , nay
do not ofily let their tongues loofe ^ but
ftudiou/ly Juggeft i'aordinancies to
them 5 a7id ufe the [fur where they
Jhould the bridle. By this means
converjation is fo generally corrupted ,
that ma?iy have had caufe to mfh
they had not bin made fociable crea-
tures. u!i man fecluded from company
can hanje but the Devil and himfelf
to temt him , but he that converfes ,
ha^ almoji as many fnares as he has
b compa-
The Preface.
companions. Aden barter *vices , and
as if each had ?jot e?ioiigh of his own
growth , tran^lant out of his neighbors
fill y and that ovhich was intended
to cultivate and civili:^e the world ,
has turned it into a wild defert arid
wildernefs.
4. This face of things I confefs
looks not ^verj p'omijtng to one who
is to folicite a reformation. But
whatever the hopes are , I am fure
the needs are great enough to jufiifj
the attemt. For as the difeafe is Epi^
demte , fo it is mortal alfo , utterly
inconfiftent with that pure religion ^
which leads to life, < We maj take St.
JamesV word for it , If any man
leem to be religious , and bridleth
not his tongue , that mans reHgion
is vain J Jam. i. x6. God knows
we
The Preface.
we ha^e ?20t much Religion among us:
'tis great pity we Jbould fruftrate
the little we have , render that utter^
ly injignificant , which at the heli a-
mounts to fo Utile. Let therefore the
difficulty and neceffty of the tasl^^
prevail with us to take time he^
fore us 5 7J0t to defer this fo necef[ary
a worl^ till the ?nght come ; or ima-
gine that the l^ongue wil he able to
expiate its whole age of guilt by a
feeble y Lord have mercy on me at
the lafl. Tho indeed if that were
fuppofahhy 'twere but a broken reed
to truH to , no?ie l^nowing whether
he Jhall have time or grace for that.
He may be furpri^d with afi Oath ,
a Blafj)hemy , a DetraBion in his
mouth : many have bin fo. 'Tis fure
there muft be a dying moment : and
how
The Preface.
hcu? can any man fecure h'tmfelf , it
Jhall ?70t he the fame mth that in
"ivhich he utters thofe , a?2d his expi-
ring breath , he fo emploied ? Sure they
ca?wot thinly that thofe inca?Jtations
( tho hellijh enough ) can make them
/hot free , render them in^vulnerahle
to deaths darts ; and if they have not
that or fome other as ridiculous re--
ferves , 'tis flrange what Jhould
inal^e them run fuch a mad adven^
ture,
5'. But I expect it Jhould he oh^
jected^ that this little defpicableTraci
is not proportionable to the encoun-
ter to 'ivhkh it is brought , that bejides
the unslzilful managi?ig of thofe
points it dos touchy it "ivholly omits
many proper to the fubjeci , there be^
ing faults of the Tongue which it
paffes
The Preface.
fajjes in Jtlence. I confefs there is color
enough for this obje&ion. But I believe
if it were put to "votes , more would
refohe I had /aid too much , rather
then too little. Should I ha^ve en-
larged to the utmojl comfafs of this
Theme , / Jhould have made the 'vo-
lume of fo affrighting a hulk^ , that
few would have attemted it ; and
bj faying much I Jhould have faid
nothing at all to thofe who moft need
it, Adens fiomacs are ge^ierally fo
queafte in thefe cafes , that 'tis 7iot
fafe to overload them. Let them try
how they can digeft this ; if they can
fo M to turn it i?ito kindly nurijh-
ment , they will be able to fupply
themfelves with the remavnder. For
I thinks I may with fome co?jfidence
affirm, that he that can confine his
'Tongue
The Preface,
^tongue mthin the limits here pre-
fcriVd , may mthout much difficulty re^
ftrain its other excurfions. All I Jhall
leg of the Reader y is but to come with
fincere intentions ^^ and then perhaps
thefe fe'iP Stones a?id Sling ufed in
the name , and mth invocation of the
Lord of Hofts , may comttervail the
maffive armor of the uncircumcifed
Philiftin. And may that , God who
loves to magnifie his fo'wer in weakr
nefs , give it the like fuccefs.
THE
THE CONTENTS.
SeB.\. OftheVfe of Speech. /.i.
SeEi.i. Of the manifold Abufe of Speech. 7.
SeB.^. OfAthelfikalD'tfcQurfe. /. ix,
SeB.ji^. OfDetraB'ton. {-19-
Se6t.^. OfLy'ingT>efamation. /'•49-
SeB.6. OfVncharitableTnith. p.6z.
SeB. 7. Of Scoffng andT)enfion. /• 1 1 3.
Sea.^. Of Flattery. /•i34-
SeB.9. OfBoafiing. f-^55-
SeB. 10. Of^eruloufnefs. f. 174.
SeB. 1 1 . OfTofitivenefs. /. 188.
SeB .12.0/ Obfcene Talk. f. 204.
TheChfe. ' p. 106.
\
OF THE
Governinent of the TorisUe^
Sect. I.
Of the Ufe of Speech.
AN at his firll creation was
fubflituted by God as his
Vicegerent , to receive the
homage , and enjoy the fer-
vices of all inferior beings : nay farther
Was endowed with excellencies fit to
maintain the port of fo vaft an Empire.
Yet thofe very excellencies, as they quali-
fied him for dominion ^ fo they unfitted
A him
X The Government of the Tongue.
him for a fatisfaction or acquiefcence in
thofe his vaffals : the dignity of his na-
ture fet him above the lociety or con-
verfe of mere animals : fo that in all the
pomp of his roialty , amidft all the throng
and variety of creatures , he ftill remain'd
folitary. But God , who knew what an
appetite of fociety he had implanted in
him , judged this no agreeable flate for
him , It is not meet that man Jhoiild be
alone. Gen. x. i8. And as in the univer-
fal frame of nature , he ingrafTed fuch an
abhorrence of vacuity , that all creatures
do rather fubmit to a preternatural mo-
tion then admit it ; fo , in this emty , this
deftiturc condition of man , he relieved
him by a miraculous expedient, divided
him that he might unite him, and made
one part of him an aflbciate for the o-
ther.
2. Neither did God take this care
to provide him a companion, merely for
the entercourfes of Senfe : had that bin
the fole aim , there needed no new pro-
ductions , there wxre fenfitive creatures
enough : the defign was to entertain his
nobler principle , his reafon , with a more
equal converfe , affign him an intimate ,
whofe intelle(^ as much correfpondcd
with
S E G T. I. Of the Vfe ofSfeech. 3
with his , as did the outward form , whofe
heart, according to Solonmis rcfemblance ,
anfwered his, As in 'ui'ater face anfjvers
face. Prov. 27. 19. with whom he might
communicate minds, traffic and enter-
change all the notions and fentiments of
a reafonable foul.
3. But tho there were this fympathy
in. their fublimer part which difpofed them
to the mofV intimate union ; yet there was
a cloud of flelli in the way which inter-
cepted their mutual view, nay permitted
no intelhgence between them , other then
by the mediation of fome Organ equal-
ly commenfurate to foul and body. And
to this purpofe the infinite wifdom of
God ordained vSpeech ; which as it is a
found refulting from the modulation of
the Air , has molt affinity to the fpirit,
but as it is uttered by the Tongue , has
immediate cognation with the body, and
fo is the fitted inftrument to manage a
commerce between the rational yet in-
vifiblc powers of human fouls cloathed in
flefli.
4. And as we have reafon to admire
the excellency of this contrivance , fo
have we to applaud the extenfivenefs of
the benefit. From this it is we derive all
A X the
4 The Government of the Tongue.
the advantages of fociety : without this
men of the nearcfl: neighborhood would
have fignified no more to each other then
our Antipodes now do to us. All our
arts and fciences for the accommodati-
on of this life , had remain'donly arude
Chaos in their firll matter , had not fpeech
by a mutual comparing of notions rang-
ed them into order. By this it is we can
give one another notice of our wants,
and foUicit relief; by this we interchang--
ably communicate advifes, reproofs, con-
folations , all the neceffary aids of hu-
man imbecillity. This is that which pof-
fcfles us of the nioft valuable blefling of
human life , 1 mean Friendlliip , which
could no more have bin contra(^cd a-
mongfl; dumb men , then ic can between
pidlures and ftatucs. Nay farther to this
\ve oss^ ip a great degree the intcrefls
even of our fpiritual being, all the oral ,
vea and written revelations too of Gods
Willi for had there bin np language there
had bin no writing. And tho we rtiuft not
pronounce how far God might have evi-
denced himfelf to mankind by immediate
ihfpiration of every individual , 5^t we
n;iay fafely reft in the Apoftles inference
Rom. lo. 14. HrjJ shall' they-he'teve m
■"' ■ ' him
S E c T. I. Of the Vfe of Speech. 5-
him whom they have not heard, and how
shall they hear withotit a preacher ?
5. From all thefe excellent ufes of ir
ill refpe^t of man, we may collect another
in relation to God, that is, the fraifif/g
and magnify.mg his goodnefs , as for all
other Effects ofhis bounty ,fo particularly
that he hath given us language , and all
the confequent advantages of it. This is
the juft inference of the fon of Syrach
Ecclus. 5* I. 11. The Lord hath given me a
tongue , and I will praife him therewith.
This is the facrifice which God calls forfo
often by the Prophets , the Calves of our
lips , which anfwers to all the oblations
out of the herd, and which the Apoftle
makes equivalent to thofe of the floor and
wineprejs alfo , Heb. 13. 15. The fruit of
our lips , giving thanks to his name. To this
we frequently find the Pfalmi ft exciting
both hi'mfelf and others , Awdke up my
glory , I wt II give thanks unto thee , O Lord,
among the people , and I willfmg unto thee
among the nations. Pfal. 57. 9, 10. And
Opraife the Lord with me, and let us ma-
gnify his name together. Pfal. 3 4. 3 . And in-
deed who cverobfervcs that excellent ma-
gazine of Devotion , the book of Pfal ms ,
ihall find that the Lands make upv^ very
great part of it. 6, B y
6 The Government of the Tongue.
6. B Y what hath bin iaid , wc may de-
jfine what are the grand ufes of ipeech,
viz. the Glorifying of God , and the be-
nefitino; of men. And this helps us to
an injfallible tefl: by which to try our
words. For fnice every thing is fo lar ap-
provable as it anfwers the end of its be-
ing , what part focver of our difcourfes a-
grees not with the primitive ends of
fpcech, will not hold weight in the ba-
lance of the fan^tuary. It will therefore
nearly concern us to- enter upon this fcru-
tiny , to bring our words to this touch-
(lone : for tho in our depraved eftimate the
Eloquence of Language is more regarded
then the innocence, tho we think our
words vaniili with the breath that utters
them , yet they become records in Gods
Court , are laid up in his Archives as wit-
nelTes either for , or againft us : for he who
is truth it felf hath told us , that By thy
words thou shalt be jtifl'tfied , and by thy
words thou shalt be condemned , Mat.i i. 3 7.
Sect.
Of the Abufe of Speech.
S E C T. I I.
Of the manifolds Ahufe of
Speech.
I. AND now fince the original de-
JLA Tigns of fpeaking are fo noble,
fo advantageous , one would be apt to
conclude no rational creature would be
temted to pervert them , fnice 'tis fure he
can fubftinite none for them , that can
equally conduce , either to his honor , or
intereft.
1. Y E T experience ( that great baffler
of fpeculation) afHircs us the thing is too
poflible , and brings in all ages matter of
facl: to confute our fuppofitions. So lia-
ble alas is fpecch to be depraved , that the
Scripture dcfcribes it as the fourcc oi all
our other depravation. Original fni came
firll out at the mouth by fpeaking, before
it cntred in by eating. The firfl: ufe wc
find Eve to have made of lier language,
w as to enter parly with the temter , and
from that to become a temter to her huf
band. And immediatly upon the fall , guilty
Adam frames his tongue to a frivolous ex-
cufc
'E The Government of the Tongue.
cule , which was' much lefs able to cover
his fni then the fig-leaves were his naked-
nefs. And ^§ in the infancy of the firft
world, the tongue had licked up the ve-
nem of the old ferpent , fo neither could
the Deluge walli it ofFinthefecond. No
fooner was that fmall colony (where-
with the depopulated earth was to be re-
planted ) come forth of the Ark , but we
meet with Cham a delator to his own fa-
ther , inviting his brethren to that execra-
ble fpecfcacle of their parents nakednefs.
3. Nor did this only run in the blood
of that accurfed Pcrfon ; the holy feed was
not totally free from its infection , even
the Patriarchs themfelves were not ex-
emt. Abraham lifed a repeted collufion
in the cafe of his wife , and expofed his
own integrity to preferve her chaftity.
Ifaac the heir of his blefling , was fon of
his infirmity alfo , aud afted over the fame
fcene upon Rebecca's account. 'Jacob
obtain'd his fathers blefTing by a flat lie.
Simeon and Levi fpakc not only falfly ,, but
infidioufly, nay hypocritically, abufingat
once their prolelytcs , and their religion ,
for the effecl:ing their cruel dcfigns upon
the Slchemttes. Mofes tho a man of an un-
parailel'd meeknefs , yet f^ake unadvifedly
ix;ith
S E c T. II. Of the Abtife of Speech. 9
vj'tth his lips., Pfal. 106. 33. ^avid ut-
tered a bloody vow again ft: Nabal, fpake
words Jrnoother then oil to Uriah , when he
had don him one injury , anddefign'd him
another. 'Twerc endlefs to reckon up
thofe feveral inftances, the old Tefl;ament
gives us of tl fe lapfes of the tongue :
neither want where divers in the n^w ;
tho there is one of fo much horror , as fu-
j^erfedes the naming more , I mean that
of St. ^eter in his reiterated abjuring his'
Lord , a crime which ( abft:ra<fted from the
intention)fcems worfe then that oi Judas-.
that traitor owned his relation , cried Ma-
fter Alajler even when he betraied him ,
fo that had he bin mefured only by his
tongue , he might have paft: for the better
difciple.
4. These are fad inft:ances , nor re-
corded to patronize the fm , but to ex-
cite our caution. It was a Politic infc-
rehce of the elder of Ifrael in the cafe of
Jehui Behold f-jvO Kings food not before-
him , bow then shall 'weflandXx. Kings loi-'
And we may \vell apply it to this ; if pcif-:^
fons of fo circumfpedj^ apiety, havc'biil"
thus overtaken, what feciirity can there
\k for our SVretchlefs ofcitaiicy ?; If
thofe who kept their mouths as it were
B with
ip The G oycriiment of the .^ongue.
'-ji'ith a bridle , PfaL3 9.1 .could not alwaies
prcfcrve them innocent, to what guilts
may not our unrcltraincd licentious
tongues hurry us ? Thofe which , as the
Pfalmill: fpeakcth Pfalni yi. 9. go thro
the -jDorld, are in that unbounded range
very likely to meet with him who walks
the fame round. Job. x.x. and by him be
tuned and fet to his key , be fcruedand
\yrefled from their proper ufc, and made
fubfervient to his vilell defigns.
jffj. , A N D would God this were only a
probable fuppofition ! but alas experience
fuppiints the ufe of conjciflure in the
point •. we do not only prefumc it may
be fo , butaftually find it is fo. For amidfl
tlic uriiverfal depravation of our faculties, :
there is none more notorious then that of ^
fpeech. AVhither iliall we-turn us to find
it in its priftine integrity ?- Amidft th^C-
infinity of words in which wc exhauft our .
breath , how fc\v are therq which do at
all correfpond with the original defigna-
tion of fpeech; Q^y yvliicfe do not flatly^\
coiitradid it ? To what tn^holy , uncha-
ritable purpofes is that'uf^jyi &GU.lty perr >
v^cte4 ? That which; w^as .meant, to fer^fi ,
asrtheperfui^iec^ ijJK taber,nacle ,, to fendr[
11^, t^e .ince«f§5 - of pr^ife^ «tnd praiers ,' ,
^ -. •;! '^ now
Sect. II. Of the Abufe of Speech, ii
now exhales in impious vapors , to cclipfc
if it were polTiblc the Father of liglit.
That which should be the florc-houfeof
relief and refrelhment to our brethren , is
become a magazine of all ofTenfive wea-
pons againft them , fpears andarrovjsand
sharjpfji'ords,2L.s the Pfalmifl often phrafes
it. We do not only fall by the flip-
perinefs of our tongues , but we delibe-
rately difcipline and train them to mif-
chie£ IVe bend our torigu£s as our bo-zz's
for lies, 2.S the Prophet lpeaks,Jer.9. 3 .And
in a word , what God affirmed of the old
world in relation to thoughts , is too ap-
pliable to our words , they are evil and
that continually , Gen. 6. 5-. and that which
was intended for the inflrument , the aid
of human focicty,is become the difturber,
the pcfl of it.
6. I fliall not attemt a particular dif-
cuffion of all the vices of the tongue : it
doth indeed pafs all Geography to draw an
exaft Map of that isjorld ^f .iniquity , as
St. James calls it. I fhall only draw the
greater lines, and diftribute it into its prin-
cipal and more eminent parts, which ?re
diftinguifliable as they relate to God , our
Neighbor , and our fclvcs ; in each of
which I iliall rather make an elTay by
B 1 way
IX The Governrfieiit of the Tongue.
way of inftancc, then attemtan exad: enu-
meration or furvey.
Sect. III.
Of Atheiflicall Dtfcourfe,
I. T Begin with thofe which relate to
X God , this poor defpicable member
the tongue being of fuch a gigantic info-
lence tho njot fize , as even to make war
with heaven. 'Tis true every difordered
fpeech doth remotely fo,asit is a violation
of Gods law ; but I now fpeak only of
thofe which as it were attaque his peribn ,
and immediatly fly in the face of Omni-
potency. In the highefl rank of thefe we
may well place all AtheifticalDifcourfe,
which is that bold fort of rebellion , which
ftrikes not only at his Autority , but him-
felf: Other blafphemies level fome at one
Attribute , fome another ; but this by a
more compendious impiety, ihoots at
his very being , and as if it fcorn'd thofe
peice-male guilts ; fets up a fingle monfter
(jig enough to devour tllem all : for all in-
fetior
S E c T. Hi. OfAtheifticalTiifiourfe. 1 3
ferior profanenefs is as much outdated by
Atheifm , as is religion it felf.
X. Time was when the inveihing a-
gainft this , would have bin thought a very
impertinent fubjedl in a Chriflian nation ,
and men would have replied upon me as
the Sfartan Lady did, when ihe was ask'd
what was the puniihment for adulterefles ,
There are no fiicb things here. Nay even
amongfl the moft barbarous people, it
could have concerned but fome few
finglc perfons ; no numbers , much lefs fo-
cieties of men , having ever excluded the
belief of a Deity. And perhaps it may at
this day concern them as little as ever ; for
amidft the various Deities and worlhips
of thofe remoter nations , we have yet
no account of any that renounce all. *Tis
only our light hath fo blinded us : fo that
God may upbraid us as he did Ifrael .
Hath a nation changed their gods which
yet are no gods ? but my people have
changed their g!ory for that isjhich doth
not profit. Jer. z. 1 1 . This madnefs is now
the inclofurc , the peculiarity of thofe
who by their names and inllitution fhould
be Chriftians-.as if that natural Aphorifm,
That when things are at the height they
mnft fall again, had place here alfo,
and
14 The Government of the Tongue.
and our being of the mod excellent*, moft
elevated religion,\vere but the preparative
to our being of none.
3 . 'T I s indeed deplorable to fee , how
the profeflors of no God begin to vie
numbers v/ith all the differing perfwafions
in religion , fo that Atheifm feems to be
the gulph that finally fwallows up all our
fcfts. It has flruck on a fuddcn into fuch
a reputation , that it fcorns any longer to
fculk , but own's it fclf more publicly
then moft men dare do the contrary. 'Tis
fet down in the feat of the fcorner , and
ilnce it cannot argue , refolves to laugh all
Piety out of countenance;and having feiz-
ed the mint , nothing fliall pafs for wit
that hath not its ftamp , and with it there
is no mettal of fo bafe an alloy , but fliall
go current. Every the duUeft creature
that can but ftoutly difclaim his maker ,
has by it fufficiently fecured its title to in-
genuity ; and fuch mefures being once
eftablillied, no wonder at its flioles of pro-
felytes , when it c,ives on the one hand li-
cence to all fenfual inordinances , permits
them to be as much beafts as they will , or
can ; and yet tells them on the other , that
they are the more men for it. Sure 'tis not
ftfange that a hook thus doubly baited
fliould
Sect. III. Of Atheiftical'Difiourfe. 15-
fliould catch many. Either of thofe al-
lurements fmgle, we fee has force enough.
The charms of fenfuality are fo fafcina-
ting , that even thofe who believe another
world, and the fevere revenges that will
there attend their luxuries , yet chufe to
take them m prefent with all the difmal
reverfions. And then fure it cannot but
be very good news to fuch a one to be
told , that that after- reckoning is but a
falfc alarm , and his great willingnefs to
have it true , will cafily incline him to
believe it is fo. And doubtlcfs were A-
theifm traced up to its firft caufes, this
would be found the moft operative ; 'tis
fo convenient for a man that will have,
no God to controul or reftrain him , to
have none to puniili him neither ; that
that utility paffes into argument , and he
will rather put a cheat upon his underflan-.
ding by concluding there is no future
account , then leave fuch a fling in his
plefurcs , as the remembrance of it muft
needs prove. This feems to be the origi-
nal and firfl rife of this impiety , it being
imppffible for any man that fees the
wliole;,,nay but the fmalkfl part of the
Ijjniverfe, to doubt of a firftandfupreme
lacing, until from the confcioufnefs of
his
i6 The Government of the Tongue.
his provocations, it become his interell
there fhould be none.
4. T H I s is indeed , confidering the de?
pravation of the world, a pretty fad te-
nure for Athcifm to hojd by; yet itha^
of late twiftcd its cord , and got that o-
ther firing to its bow we before mention-
ed. Its bold monopolizing of wit an4
reafon compeils, as the other invited
men. This we may indeed call the devils
prefs,by which he hath filled up his troops;
men are afraid of being reproched for 11I-.
ly and irrational , in giving themfelves
to a blind belief of v,'hat they do nop fee;
And this bugbear frights them from their
religion ; refolving they will be nofoolsfor
Chrifls fake , i. Cor. 4. 13 . I dare 'appdal
to the breads of many in this age, whether
this have not bin one of the mod preva-
lent teihtations with tliem to efpoufe th(?
tenet; and tho perhaps they at firfl took
it iip, : only in their own defence, for
fear of be'ing thought fools, yet that
fear i^bti' converts into ambitioh of
being thought wits. They do.uot fa-
tisfy themfelves with deferting their t^-
iigion , unlefs they revrl^ italfo ; rcmem-.
bring how tbemfelve.'^Arcr.elaughtb'uto^
it,they cffay to do the'Iike by others. Yea'
fo
Sect. III. Of JtheiftkalT>ifiourfe. 17
fo zealous propugners are they of their
negative Creed, that they arc importu-
nately diligent to inflrud men in it,
and in all the little fophiftries andcoiors
for defending it : fo that he that would
mefure the opinions by their itiduilry,
and the remiffnefs of believers , would
certainly think that the great interefl of
Eternity lay wholly on their fide. Yet I
take not this for any argument of the
confidence of this perfw^afion , but the
contrary : for we know they are not the
fecure, but the defperatc undertakings,
where men are moft defirous of partners ,
and there is fomcwhat of horror in an
uncouth way, which makes menunwilhng
to travail it alone.
5-. The truth is, tho thefe men fpeak
big, and prefcribe as pofitively to their
pupils , as if they had feme counter reve-
lation to confute thofe of Mofes and
Chrift, yet were their fecret thoughts laid
open, there would fcarce be found the
like affurance there. I w- ill not fay to what
reprobate fenfe fome particular perfons
may have provoked God ^o dchvcr them ,
but in the generality, I believe one may
affirm, that there is feldomaninfidcli'^y
fo fanguine as to exclude all fears. Their
C moft
i8 The Government of the Tongue.
moft bold Thefts , That there is no God ,
no judgment, no hell, is often met with
an inward tremulous Hypothecs , What
if there be ? I dare in this remit me to
themfelves, and challenge ( not their con-
fciences , who profefs to have none , but )
their natural ingenuity to fay , whether
they have not fometimes fuch damps
andshiverings within them. Iftheyfhall
fay , that thefe are but the rehques of pre-
pofTeflion and education, which their
reafon foon diffipates , Let. me then ask
them farther, whether they would not
give a confiderable fum to be infallibly
afcertained there were no fuch thing:
now no fenfible man would giv€ a far*
thing to be fecured from a diing which
his reafon tells him is impoflible ; there-
fore if they would give any thing (as I
dare fay they themfelves cannot deny
that they would ) 'tis a tacite demonftrati-
on that they are not fo fure as they pretend
to be.
6. I might here join ffTue upon the
whole, and prefs them with the unreafo-
nablenefs , the defingenuoufnefs of em*
bracing a profeflion to which their own
hearts have an inward relucflance , nay
the imprudence of governing their lives
by
Sect. III. OfAtheifticalT>'tfcourfe. 19
by that pofition , which for ought they
know may be (nay they actually fear is)
falfe , and if it be , mufl inevitably immerr-
fe them in endlefs ruin. But I muft re-
member my defign limits me only to
the faults of the Tongue; and there-
fore I mufl not follow this chafe be-
yond thofe bounds. I shall only extend
it to my proper fubje(^, that of Athei-
ilical talk , wherein they make as mad an
adventure as in any other of their enor-
mous practices , nay perhaps in fome re-
fpeds a worfe.
7. I N the firft place 'tis to be confider-
ed, that if there be a God, he, as well
as men , may be provoked by our words as
well as deeds. Secondly 'tis pofTible he-
may be more. Our ill deeds may be don
upon a vehement impulfe of temtation ;
Ibme profit or plefures may tranfport and
hurry us ; and they may at leafl have this
alleviation, that we did them to pleafe
or advantage our felves , not to fpighc
God. But Atheiflical words cannot be fo
palliated: they are arrows dire(ftly fliot
againfl heaven, and can come out of
no quiver but malice: for 'tis certain
there never was man that faid , There was
no God, buthewiflieditfirft. Wcknow
C 2 what
lo The Government of the Tongue.
Avhat an enhancement our injuries to each
other receive from tiieir being malicious :
and fure they will do fo much more to
God , whofe principal demand from us is,
that Ave give him our heart. But third-
ly this implieth a malice of the higheft
fort. Human fpight is ufually confined
within fome bounds, aims fometimesat
the goods , fometimes at the fame , at
moft but at the life of our neighbor: but
here is an accumulation of all thofe,
back'd with the moft prodigious infolence.
*Tis God only that has power of annihi-
lation , and we ( vile worms ) feek here
to fteal that incommunicable right, and
retort it upon himfclf , and by an anti-
creative power would unmake him who
has made us. Naylaftly, by this we have
not only the utmoft guilt of fmgle rebels ,
but we become ring-leaders alfo , draw
in others to that accurfed affociation : for
'tis only this liberty of difcourfe that hath
propagated Atheifm. The Devil might
perhaps by inward fuggeftions have
drawn in here and there a Angle Profelyte;
but he could never have had fuch numbers,
had he not ufed fome as decoies to enfnarc
others.
8. And now let the brisk Atheift a
little
Sect. III. OfAtheiftkalDifcourfe. ii
little confider, what thefc aggravations
will amount to. Twas good counfel was
given to the Athenians , to be very furc
Fh'tiip was dead , before they exprelled
their joy at his death , left they might find
him alive to revenge that hafiy triumph.
And the like I may give to thefe men , Let
them be very fure there is no God , be-
fore they prcfume thus to defie him , left
they find him at laft aflcrt his being in
their deftrucflion. Certainly nothing lefs
thenaden^onftrationcanjuftifythereafo-
nablenefs oifuch a daring. And when they
can produce rhat , they have fo far outgon
all the comprehenfions of mankind , they
may well challenge the liberty of their
Tongue , and fay , They are their own^ who
is Lord over them , Pfalm. 11.4.
9. But till this be don , 'twere well
they would foberly ballance the hazards
of their liberty with the gains of it. The
hazards are of the moft dreadful kind ,
the gains of the flighteft : the moft '\%
but a vain applaufe of wit for an impious
jeft , or of reafon for a deep confiderer :
and yet even for that they muft in-
croach on the Devils right to , who is
commonly the promter, and therefore
if there be any credit in it may juftly
challenge
±z The G overnment of the Tongue.
challenge it. Indeed *tis to be fear'dhe
will at laft prove the mailer wit , when
as for thofe little loans he makes them,
he gets their fouls in morgage. Would
God they would confider betimes, what a
woful raillery that will be, which for ought
they know may end in gnashing of teeth.
lo. The next impiety of the Tongue
is Swearing , that foolifli fm which plaies
the Platonic to damnation, and courts
it purely for it felf ; without any of the
appendant allurements which other fms
have : a vice which for its guilt may jufti-
fy the Iharpeft , and for its cuftomarinefs
the frequented invedives which can be
made againft it. But it has bin aflaulted
fo often by better pens , and hasfliewed
it felf fo much proof againft all Homily ,
that it is needlefs as difcouraging a task
for me to attemt it. 'Tis indeed a thing
taken up fo perfectly without all fenfe ,
that 'tis the lefs wonder to find it main-
tain its felf upon the fame principle 'tis
founded , and continue in the fame defi-
ance to reafbn wherein it began.
II. All therefore that I fliall fay con-
cerning it, is to exprefs my wonder how
It has made afliifttotwift it felf with the
former fm of Atheifm, by which ac-
cording
Sect. III. OfAthelflkal'Difiourfe. 23
cording to all riilesof reafoningitfeems
to be lUperfeded : atvd yet we fee none
own God more in their oaths , then thofe
that difavow him in their other difcourfe.
Nay fuch men fwear not only to fwell
their language , and make it found more
full and bluflring , but even when they
mod defire to be believed. What an abfur-
dity of wickednefs is this ? Is there a God
to fwear by , and is there none to believe
in, none to pray to? We call it frenzy
to fee a man fight with a Ihadow : but
fure 'tis more fo , to invoke it. Why
then do thefe men of reafon make fuch
folemn appeals ( for fuch every oath is )
to a mere Chimera and Phantafm? It
would make one think they had fome
inward belief of a Deity, which they
upon furprizal thus blurt out: if it argue
not this, it does fomething worfe, and
becomes an evidence how much the ap-
pearance of a fin recommends it to them ,
that they thus catch at it , without exa-
mining how it will confift with another
they like better. Thefe are indeed whole-
fale Chapmen to Satan , that do not truck
and barter one crime for another, but take
the whole herd : and tho by reafon of
their difagreeing kinds they are apt to
gore
X4 The Government of the Tongue.
gore and worry each other , yet he dill
keeps up his old policy , and will not let
one Devil caft out another. A league
fhall be made between the moft difcor-
dant fins , and there Ihall be a God , or
there ihall be none, according as opportu-
nity ferves to provoke him : fo aflum-
ing to himftlf a power which even
Omnipotence difclaims , the reconciling
contradi<^ions.Andhefucceedsinitasfar
as his concern reaches : for tho he cannot
folve the repugnancies in reafon, yet as
long as he can unite the fins in mens pra-
<5tice , he has his defign ; nay has at once
the gain and the fport of fooling thefe
great pretenders to ratiocination.
IX. A third fort of impious difcourfe
there is, which yet is bottom'd on the moft
facred , I mean thofe profane paraphra-
fes that are ufually made upon the holy
Text , many making it the fubjed of their
cavils , and others of their mirth. Some do
it out of the former Atheiftical principle ,
and I cannot but confefs they a6l confo-
nantly to themfelves in it, for 'tis but a
needful artifice for men to difparage thofe
teftimonies, which they fear may be
brought againft them. But there are others
who not only profcfs a God , but alfo own
the
Sect. III. Of Athe'tftkal T>ifiourfe. x^
the facred Scripture for his word, and
yet ufe it as courfly as the others. And
thefe I confefs,are riddles of profanenefs ,
that hang , as fome have pidured Solo^
mon^ between heaven and hell , borrow
the Chriftians faith, and the Atheifls
drollery upon it ; and 'tis hard to fay in
which they are more in earneft. It is
indeed fcandalous to fee, towhatdefpi-
cable ufes thofe holy Oracles are put: fuch
as fliould a Heathen obfervc , he would
little fufped: them to be own'd by us as
the rule of our religion , and could ne-
ver think they were ever meant for any
thing beyond a whetflone for wit. One
tries his Logic upon them , and objetfls
to the fenfe ; another his Rhetoric , and
quarrels at the phrafe ; a third his con-
trivance , and think he could have wo-
ven the parts with a better contexture ,
never confidering , that unlefs they could
confute the Divinity of their original , all
thefe accufations are nothing clfebutdi-
rc(ft blafphemy , the making GoA fuch a
one as themfelves , Pfal. fo. 11. and char-
ging him with thofe defects which are
indeed their own. They want learning or
induflry to found the depth of thofe facred
trefures , and therefore they decry the
D Scri-
x6 The Government of the Tongue.
Scripture as mean and poor ; and to ju-
llify their own wifdom , difpute Gods.
This is as if the mole fliould complain
the fun is dark, becaufe he dwells under
ground , and fees not his fplendor. Men
are indeed in all inftances apt to fpeak
ill of all things they underftand not , but
in none more then this. Their ignorance
of locall cufloms , Idioms of language ,
and feveral other circumflances , renders
them incompetent judges, (as has bin
excellently evinced by a late Author. )
'Twill therefore befit them , either to qua-
lify themfelves better , or to fpare their
Criticifms. But upon the whole , I think
I may challenge any ingenious man , to
produce any writing ot that antiquity,
whofe phrafe and genius is fo accommo-
dated to all fuccellions of ages. Styles
and waies of addrefs we know grow ob-
folete , and are almoft antiquated as gar-
ments : and yet after fo long a trad of
time , the Scripture muft ( by confider-
ing men ) be confeft to fpeak not only
properly , but often politely and ele-
gantly to the prefent a2;e : a great argu-
ment that it is the dictate of him that
is , The fameyefterday, to day, and for ever,
Hebr. 13.7.
13. But
SEcTAW.OfAtheiftical'Dtfcourfe. xj
13. But befides thefe more folemn
traducers , there are a lighter ludicrous
fort of profaners , who ufe the Scripture
as they do odd ends of plaics , to fur-
nifh out their jefls ; clothe all their lit-
tle impertinent conceits in its language,
anddebafe it by the mixture of fuch mi-
ferable trifles , as themfelves would be a-
fhamed of, were they not hightned and
infpiritcd by that profanenels. A bible
phrafe ferves them in difcourfe as the
haut-goufl do's in diet, to give a relifli
to the moll infipid fluff And were it not
for this Magazine , a great many mens
raillery would want fupplies : for there
are divers who make a great noife of wit ,
that would be very mute if this one To-
pic were barr'd them. And indeed it
feems a tacite confeffion , that they have
little of their own , when they are fain
thus to commit facriledg to drive on
the trade. But fure 'tis a pitiful pre-
tence to ingenuity that can be thus kept
up , there being little need of any other
faculty but memory to be able to cap
Texts. I am fure fuch repetitions out
of other books would be thought pedan-
tic and filly. How ridiculous, would a
man be , that fliould alwaies enterlard his
D X dif-
a8 The Government of the Tongue.
difcourfe with fragments of Horace, or
Virgil, or the Aphorifms of ^ythago^
ras , or Senecal Now 'tis too evident,
that it is not from anyfuperlativeefteem
of facred Writ , that it is fo often quo-
ted : and why fhould it then be thought a
fpecimen of wit to do it there , when 'tis
folly in other inftances ? The truth is ,
'tis fo much the referve of thofe who can
give no better Teflimony of their parts ,
that methinks upon that very fcore it
Ihould be given over by thofe that can.
And fure were it pofTible for any thing
that is fo bad to grow unfafhionable , the
world has had enough of this tobecloi-
ed with it : but how fond foever men are
of this divertifement , 'twill finally prove
that mirth Solomon fpeaks of, which ends
inheavinefs , Prov. 14. 13. for certainly
whether we eftimate it according to hu-
man or divine mefures , it mufl be a high
provocation of God. a
14. Let any of us but put the cafe in
our own perfons: fuppofe we had writ-
ten to a friend , to advertife him of things
of the greateft importance to himfelf,
had given him ample and exaft inftru-
ctions : back'd them with earneft exhorta-
tions and conjurings not to negleft his
own
Sect. III. OfJtheipcalT>ifcoi4rfe. 19
own concern, and laflly enforced all
with the moft moving expreflions of kind-
nefs and tendernefs to him : fuppofe , I
fay , tliat after all this , the next news
we fhould hear of that letter , were to
have it put in doggrel rime , to be made
fport for the rabble, or at the befl have the
moft eminent phrafes of it pickt out and
made a common by-word : I would
fain know how any of us would refent
fuch a mixture of ingratitude and contu-
mely. I think I need make no minute
application. The whole defign of the
Bible do's fiifficiently anfwer, nay out-
go the firft part of the parallel, and
Ood knows our vile ufage of it do's
too much (I fear too literally) adapt
the latter. And if we think the affront
to bafe for one of us , can we believe
God will take it in good part ? That were
to make him not only more ftupid then
any man , but as much fo as the heathen
Idols, i\\zt\\2ivc eiesand ftenot: Pfalm.
1 1 5". 5*. And 'tis fure the highcft madnefs
in the world , for any man that believes
that there is a God , to imagine he will fi-
nally fit down by fuch ufage.
15-. But if we weigh it in the fcale of
religion; the crime will yet appear more
iiei-
3 o The Government of the Tongue.
heinous. Mere natural Piety has taught
men to receive the Refponfes of their
Gods with allpoffible veneration. What
applications had the Delphic Oracle from
all parts , and from all ranks of men ?
What confidence had they in its pre-
dicT:ion, and what obedience did they
pay to its advice ? If we look next into
the Mofaical Oeconomy, wt lliall fee
with what dreadful folennities that Law
was promulged, what an awful reve;
jence was paid to the mount whence k
iflued, how it was fenced from any
rude intrufions either of men or beafts :
and after it was written in tables , all
the whole equipage of the Tabernacle.,
was defigned only for its more decent
repofitory , the Ark it felf receiving its
value only from what it had in cuftody.
Yea fuch a hallowing influence had it.,
as transfufed a relative fanc^ity even to
the meaneft utenfils , none of which were
after to be put to common ufes : the very
perfume was fo peculiar and facred,
that it was a capital crimie to imitate
the compofition. Afterwards when more
of the divine revelations were committed
to writmg , the Jews were fuch fcrupu-
lous revercrs of it , that 'twas the bufinefs
of
Sect. III. OfAtheifticalT>ifiourfe. 31
of the Maforites , to number not only
the fecftions and lines, but even the
words and letters of the old Teftamcnt ,
that by that exad: calculation they might
the better fecure it from any furreptitious
practices.
19. And fure the new Teftament is
not of lefs concern then the old : nay the
Apoflle afferts it to of far greater , and
which we ihall be more accountable for ,
For if the wordjpoken by Angels were Bed-
faji, and every tranfgrejjion and disobedi-
ence received ajuH recommence , how shall
we efcafe if we negle^ fo great Salvation ,
which at the fir ft began to be fpoken to us
by the Lord , and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard him? Heb. ^. ^3.
And it is in another place the inference
of the fame Apoftle , from the excellence
of the Gofpel above the Law , that we
fhould ferve God acceptably with reve.
rence and godly fear , Heb. ix.iS. And
certainly 'tis but an ill effay of that reve-
rence and godly fear , to ufe that very
Gofpel fo irreverently and ungodlily as
men now do. If we pafs from the Apo-
flolic to the next fucceeding ages of the
Church , we find the Primitive Chriili-
ans lookt on their Bibles as their mod
im-
3x The Government of the Tongue.
important trefure. Such was the out-
ward refpec^s they paid to them, (of
which the {landing up at the reading of
the Gofpel , flill in ufe among us , is afaint
memorial) that the heathen perfecutors
made it one part of their examination
of the Chriflians brought to their tribu-
nals , JVhat thofe books were which they
adored while they read them? Such was
their intimate efteem , that they expofed
all things elfe to the rapine of their ene-
mies, fo they might fecure thofe volumes.
Nor was this only an heroic piece of
zeal in fome , but indifpenfably requi-
red of all : infomuch that when in the
heat of perfecution, they were com-
manded to deliver up their Bibles to be
burnt, the Church gave no indulgence
for that neceffity of the times , but exhort-
ed men rather to deliver up their lives :
and thofe whofe courage failed them in
the encounter ; were not only branded by
the infamous name of Traditors, but fepa-
rated from the communion of the faithful,
and not readmitted till after many years of
the fevered penance.
17. I have given this brief narration ,
with a defire that the reader will com-
pare the pradice of former times with
thofe
Sect. III. Of Atheiftkal'D'tfiourfi. 33
thofe of the prefent, and fee what he
can find either among Heathens, Jews,
or Chriftians , that can at all patronize
our profanenefs. There was no refpedl
thought too much for the falfe Oracles
of a falfer God : and yet we think no con-
temts too great for thofe of the true. The
moral Law was fo facred to the Jews , that
no parts of its remotefl retinue , thofe
ceremonial attendants , were to be lookt
on as common: and we who are equally
obliged by that Law, laugh at that
by which we muft one day be judged.
The Ritual, the Preceptive, the Pro-
phetic, and all other parts of facred
Writ , were mod fednloufly , mod reli-
gioufly guarded by them t and we look
upon them as a winter nights talc, from
which to fetch matter of fport and mer-
riment. Laftly the firfl Chriftians paid a
veneration to, nay facrificed their lives
to refcue their Bibles from the unworthy
ufage of the Heathens , and we our felves
expofe them to worfe : they would but
have burnt them , we fcorn and vilify
them, and outvy even the perfecutors ma-
lice with ourcontemt. Thefe are niifera-
ble Antithefis's;yet this God knows is the;
cafe with too many. I wonder whac
£ new
3 4 The Government of the Tongue.
new (late of FeUcity hereafter thefe men
have fancied to themfelves : for fure
they cannot think thefe retrograde fteps
can ever bring them fo much as to the
Heathens Elyzium , much lefs the Chri-
flian Heaven.
18. It will therefore concern thofe
who do not quiterenouncctheir claim to
that Heaven , to confider fobcrly , how
inconfiflent their praftice is with thofe
hopes. A m.an may have a great eftate
conveied to him ; but i{ he will madly
burn , or childifhly make paper kites of
his Deeds , he forfeits his title with his
evidence : and thofe certainly that deal
fo with the conveiances of their eternal
inheritance , will not fpced better. If
they will thus dally and play with them ,
God will be as little in earneft in the per-
formance , as they are in the reception
of the promifes ; nay he will take his turn
of mocking too , and when their fcene
of mirth is over , his will begin. A dread-
ful menace of this we have , Prov. 1.24.
which deferves to be fet down at large ,
Becaufe I h.2ve called , and yerefufed , I
have flretched out my hand ^ and no man
regarded: But ye have fet at nought all
7ny counfel , and would none of my reproofs
I
S E c T. III. Of Athe'tfttcal T)ifiour/e. 3 5-
/ alfo will laugh at ^our calamity , /
will mock when your fear comet h. When
your fear comet h as defolation , and your
definition comet h as a whirlwind : when
diflrefs and anguish cometh upon you , then
shall they calluponme, but I willnot anfwer^
they shall fee k me early ^ but they shall 7iot
find me. Would God I could as well
tranfcribe this Text into mens hearts ,
and there would need no more to fe-
cure the whole Canon of Scripture from
their profanation. Could men but look
a little before them , and apprehend how
'\i\ the daies of their diftrefs and agony,
they will gafp for thofc comforts which
they now turn into ridicule ; they would
not thus madly defeat themfelves , cut
off their bed and only referve , and with
a pitiful contemt caft away thofe Cor-
dials , which will then be the only fup-
port of their fainting fpirits. As for
thofe who deride Scripture upon Athei-
flical grounds , all I iliall fay is to re-
fer to what I have faid in the beginning
of this Seftion; they had need be very
well affured that foundation be not Tan-
dy: for if it be, this rcproching Gods
word will be a confiderable addition to
the guilt of all their other hoftility , and
E 1 how
3 6 The Government of the Tongue.
how jolly focver they fecm at prefent , it
may be when that queftion they are fo
willing to take for granted , is by death
drawing near a decifion , fomc of their
confidence will retire, and leave them
in an amazed expectation of fomwhat ,
which they are fure cannot be good for
them , who have fo ill provided for it.
Then perhaps their merry vein will fail
them, and not their infidelity, but their
defpair may keep them from invoca-
ting that Power they have fo long deri-
ded. 'Tis certain it has fo happened with
fome : for as Practical , fo Speculative
wickednefs , has ufually another afpeft ,
when it Hands in the Ihadow of death ,
then in the dazling beams of health and
vigor. It would therefore he wifdom
before hand to draw it out of this de-
ceitful light,and by fober ferious thoughts
place it as near as may be in thofe circum-
flances in which 'twill then appear : and
then fure to hearts that are not wholly
petrified , 'twill feem fafer to own a God
early and upon choice , then late upon
compulfion.
19. HoNjTEVER if they will not yield
themfelves Homagers , yet the mere
poifibility of their being' in the wrong ,
fhould
Sect.III. Of Atheiftkal'Difiourfe. 37'
ihould methinks perfwade them at lead
to be civil adverfaries. A generous man
will not purfue even a falling enemy with
revilings and reproch , much lefs will a
wife man do it to one who is in any the
left probability of revenging it : it being
a received Maxim , That there is no grea-
ter folly then for a man to let his tongue
betray him to mifchief Let it there-
fore in this cafe at left ftand neuter , that
if by their words they be not juftified ,
yet by their words they may not be con-
demned. They can be no loofersbyit:
for at the utmoft , 'tis but keeping in a
little unfavory breath , which ( fuppofing
no God to be offended with it ) is yet
naufeous to all thofe men who believe
there is one. To thofe indeed who have
a zeal for their faith , there can be no
Difcourfe fo intolerably , fo difobliging :
it turns converfationinto skirmiihing,and
perpetual difputes. The Egyptians were
fo zealous for their brutilh Deities, that
ilf<?/?j- prefumed the Ifraehtes facrificing
of thofe beafts they adored , muft needs
fet them in an uproar, Exod. 8. 16.
And fure thofe who do acknowledg a Di-
vine power , cannot contentedly fit by to
hear him blafphemed. 'Tis true there
are
* 3 8 The Government of the Tongue.
are feme fo cool , that , they are of the
fame mind for God , that Gideons father
was for Baal, Judg. 6.31. Let him f lead
for hmjelf, they will not appear in his de-
fence : yet even thefe have a fecret con-
fcioufnefs , that they ought to do fo , and
therefore have fome uneafmefs in being
put to the Tefl : fo that it cannot be a
pleafant entertainment even for them.
And therefore thofe who have no fear of
God to reflrain them , fhould merhinks ,
unlefs they be perfectly of the temper of
the unjuft Judg , Luke 1 7. i . in refpeft of
men abftain from all forts of impious
difcourfe ; and at lealt be civil , tho they
will not be pious.
Sect.
Sect. IV. OfDetraBion, 39
S E C T. I V.
Of DetraBion,
WE have iccn in the lafl Sedlion
the infolence of the Tongue to-
wards God ; and fure we cannot expeA
it fhould pay more reverence to men.
If there be tliofe that dare ftretcb their
mouths againfl heaven^ Pfalm. 7. 39. We
are not to wonder if there be more that
will shoot their arrows , even bitter words ,
againft the bed on earth, Pfalm. 64. 3.
I Ihall not attemt to ranfack the whole
quiver , by fliewing every particular fort
of verbal injuries which relate to our
Neighbors , but rather chufe out fome few
which either for the extraordinarinefs of
their guilt , or the frequency of their pra-
ctice are the mod eminent. I begin
with T^etraUtion , in which both thofc
qualities concur : for as in fome inflan-
ces 'tis one of the higheft fms , fo in the
general 'tis certainly one of the mod
common , and by being fo becomes inr
40 The Government of the Tongue.
fenfible. This vice ( above all others )
feems to have maintained not only its
Empire, but its reputation too. Men
are not yet convinced heartily that it is
a fm : or if any , not of fo deep a die ,
or fo wide an extent as indeed it is*
They have if not falfe, yet imperfedl
notions of it , and by not knowing how
far its Circle reaches, do often like
young Conjurers ftep beyond the limits
of their fafety.
This lam the apter to believe , be-
caufe I fee fome degree of this fault cleave
to thofe , who have eminently corrected
all other exorbitancies of the Tongue.
Many who would ftartle at an Oath,
whofe ftomachs as well as confciences re-
coil at an obfcenity , do yet flide glibly
into a Detraction; which yet methinks
perfons otherwifc of ftrift converfations
fhould not do frequently and habitually ,
had not their eafy thoughts of the guilt
fmoothed the way to it.
I T may therefore be no unkind at-
temt, to try to difentangle from this
fnare by difplaying it ; fhewing the whole
contexture of the fin, how 'tis woven
with treds of different fizes , yet the
lead of them itrong enough to nooze
and
Sect. II. OfDetraB'ton, 4 1
and intrap us. And alas , if Satan fetter
us , 'tis indifferent to hitn whether it be
by a cable or a hair. Nay perhaps the
fmalleft fins are his greateft ftratagems.
The finer his line is fpun , the lefs Ihadow
it cafts, and is lefs apt to fright us from
the hook : and tho there be much odds
between a talent of lead and a grain of
fand , y€t thofe grains may be accumu-
lated till they out-weigh the talent. It
was a good reply of Tlatd's , to one
who murmured at his reproving him for
a fmall uiatcer, Cuftom faies he, is no
fmall rmtUr. And indeed fuppofmg a-
ny fin were fo fmall as we are willing to
fancy moft, yet an indulgent habit even
of that would be certainly ruinous : that
indulgence being perfectly oppofitc to
the Love of God , which better can con-
fift with the indeliberate commiflions of
many fins, then with an allowed perfift-
ancc m any one.
B u T in this matter of Detra<^ion , I
can not yield that any is fmall , fave only
comparatively with fome other of the
fame kind which is greater : for abfo-
lutely confidered there is even in the
very lowed degrees of it , a flatcontra-
didion to the grand rule of Charity,
F the
4x The Government of the Tongue.
the loving our neighbor as our felves.
And furcly that which at once violates
the fum of the whole fecond Table
of the Law, for fo our Saviour renders
it, Luk. lo. 7. mud be lookt on as no
trifling inconfidcrablc guilt. To evi-
dence this I fliall in the Anatomizing
this fin apply this Rule to every part
of ft: firft confideritinGrofs , in its en-
tire body , and after defcend to its feve-
ral limbs.
^^i. Detraction in the native
importance of the word , fignifies the
withdrawing or taking off from a thing?
and as it is applied to the reputation ,
it'-' denotes the impairing or leffening a
man in point of fame, rendringhim lefs
valued and eftcemed by others , which
is the final aim of Detraction, tho pur-
fued by various means.
'-'1'. This isjuftlylook'd on as one of
the moll unkind defigns one man can have
lipon another there being implanted
in every mans nature a great tender-
rrefs of Reputation : and to be carelefs
of it is lookt on as a mark of a degene-
rous mind. On which account So/on
in his laws prefumes that he that will
fell bis own fame will alfo fell the pub-
lic
Sect. IV. OfT)etra£iion. 43
lie inrereft. 'Tis true, many have im-
proved this too farr, blown up this
native fpark into fuch flames of Am-
bition , as has fet the world in a combu-
ftion ; Si\c\\ 2iSi^lex and er , Cafar , and
others, who facrificed Hecatombs to
their Fame , fed it up to a prodigy
upon a Canibal diet, the flesh of Men:
yet even thefe cxcefles ferve to evince the
univcrfal confent of mankind, that Re-
putation is a valuable and defirable
thing.
3. Nor have we only the fuffrageof
man , but the atteflation of God him-
felf , who frequently m Scripture gives
teftimony to it : A good name is better
then great riches , Prov- ^^. i. And again ,
A good name is better then precious oint-
ment. Ecclef. 7. I. And the more to re-
commend it, he propofes it as a reward
to piety and vertue , as he menaces the
contrary to wickednefs. The memory of
thejnfi shall be blejfed , but the name of the
wicked shall rot. Prov. 10.7. And that we *
may not think this an invitation fitted
only to the Jewish Oeconomy , the Apo-
ftle goes farther , and propofes the en-
deavor after it as a duty, Whatfoever
things are of good report , if there by any
F X vertue
44 The Government of the Tongue.
vertue , and if thereby any ;[r at fe , think
en thefe things , Phil. 4. 8.
4. A N D accordingly good men have
in their eftimate ranked their names the
next degree to their Souls, preferred
them before goods or life. Indeed 'tis
that which gives us an inferior fort of
Immortality , and makes us even in this
world furvive our felves. This part of
Us alone continues verdant in the grave,
and yields a perfume , when we are flench
and rottennefs : the confideration where-
of has fo prevailed with the more gene-
rous Heathens , that they have cheerfully
quitted life in contemplation of it. Thus
Efaminondas alacrioufly expired , in con-
fidence that he left behind him a per-
petual memory of the vidories he had
atchieved for his Country. Brutus fo
courted the fame of a Patriot, that he
brake thro all the obflacles of gratitude
and humanity to attain it: he cheerfully
bare the defeat of his attemt , in contem-
plation of the glory of it. 'Twere endlefs
to recount the ftories of the Codri , 'Decii ,
and Curtii , with the train of thofe noble
Heroes , who in behalf of their Countries
devoted themfelvcs to certain death.
5. But wc need no forreign Medi-
unis
S E c T . I V . Of 'DetraBlon, 45*
urns to difcover the value of a good
name : let every man weigh it but in his
own fcales, retire to his breaft, and
there refleft on that impatience he has
when his own repute is invaded. To what
dangers , to what guilts do's fometimes
the mere fancy of a reproch hurry men ?
It makes them really forfeit that vertuc
from whence all true reputation fprings,
and like Efops dog loofe the fubftancc
by too greedy catching at the shadow ;
an irrefragable proof how great a price
they {(^x. upon their fame.
6. And then fmce reafon fets it ac
fo high a rate, and paffion at a higher,
we may conclude the violating this inte-
refl, one of the greateft injuries in hu-
man commerce ; mch as is refcntcd not
only by the rash, burthcfober : fothat
we mud pick out only blocks and floncs,
the flupid and infenfible part of man-
kind, if we think we can inflid this
wound without an afflictive fmart. And
tho the power of Chriflianity do's in
fome fo moderate this refentment , that
none of thefc blows shall recoile, no de-
gree of revenge be attemted ; yet that
do's not at all juftify or excufe the in-
flider. It may indeed be a ufeful trial
of
46 The Government of the Tongue.
of the patience , and meeknefs of the de-
famed, yet the defamer has not thelefs
either of crime or danger: not of crime,
for that is rather enhanced then aba-
ted by the goodnefs of the perfon injur'd ;
not of danger, fince God is the more
immediate avenger of thofe who attemt
not to be their own. But if the injury
meet not with this meeknefs ( as in this
vindictive age 'tis manifold odds it will
not) it then acquires another accumula-
tive guilt, ftand anfwerable not only
for its own pofitive ill , but for all the
accidental which it caufes in the fufferer ,
who by this means is rob'd not only of
his repute , but his innocence alfo , pro-
voked to thofe unchriflian returns, which
draw God alfo into the enmity, and
fet him at once at war with heaven and
earth. And tho as to his immediate judg-
ment , he mufl bear his iniqiiify , anfwer
for his impatience: yet as in all Civil
infurrec^ions the ring-leader is lookt on i
with a pecuhar feverity, fo doubtlefs I
in this cafe, thefirftprovokerhasby his
feniority and primogeniture a double
portion of the guilt, and may confe-
quently expe(5l of the puni'^hment, ac-
cording to the Doom of our Savior,
me
S E c T. I V . OfT)etraBion. 47
fVoe be to that man by whom the offence
Cometh , Mat. 18.7.
8. Indeed there is fuch a train of
mifchiefs ufually follow this fin , that 'tis
fcarce poflible to make a full eftimate
of its malignity. 'Tis one of the grand
incendiaries which difturbs the peace of
the world , and has a great iliare in mod of
its quarrels. For could we examine all the
feuds which harrafsPerfons, Families, nay
fometimes Nations to , we iliould find the
greater part take their rife from injurious
reprochful words , and that for one which
is commenced upon the intuition of any
real confiderable intereft , there are many
which owe their being to this licentiouf-
ncfs of the Tongue.
9. In regard therefore of its proper
guilt, and all thofe remoter fins and mi-
feries which enfue it, 'tis every mans great
concern to watch over himfclf Neither is
it lefs in refpe(ft both of that univerfal
aptnefs we have to this fin, and its being
fo perpetually at hand ; that for others we
muft attend occafions and convenient
feafons, but the opportunities of this are
alwaies ready : I can do my neighbor this
injury , when I can do him no other. Be-
fides the multitude of objeds do propor-
tionably
48 The Government of the Tongue.
tionably multiply both the poflibilities
and incitations ; and the objefts here are
as numerous , as there arc Perfons in the
world I either know , or have heard of.
For tho fome forts of Detraftions feem
confined to thofe to whom wc bear parti-
cular malice , yet there are other kinds of
it more ranging , which fly indifferently
at all. Laftly thisfmhastheaidalmoftof
univerfal example , which is an advantage
beyond all the others , there being fcarce
any fb irrefiflable infmuation as the prar
<^ice of thofe with whom we converfe ,
and no fubje(ft of converfe fo common as
the defaming our neighbors.
10. Since then the path is fo flippery ,
it had not need be dark too. Let us then
take in the bed light we can, and atten-
tively view this fm in its feveral branches,
that by a diftinft difcovery of the divers
adls and degrees of it , we may the better
be armed againfl them ^11.
Sect.
Sect. V. Of Lytng 'Defamation. 45
Sect V,
Of Ljing 'Defamation,
1, "P^ETRACTION being (as.
J^ we have already faid ) the lefs-
ning and impairing a man in his repute ,
we may refolve, that what ever condu-
ces to that end , is properly a Detracti-
on. I ill all begin with that which is
mod eminent , the fpreading of Defama-
tory reports. Thefe may be of two kinds ,
either falfe , or true ; which tho they feem
to be of very different complexions, yet
may fpring from the fame fcock, and drive
at the fame defign. Let us firft confider of
the falfe.
^. And this admits of various cir-
cumflances. Sometimes a man invents a
perfect falfity of another : fomctimes he
that do's not invent it , yet reports it , tho
he know it to be falfe : and a third fort
there are, who having not certain know-
ledg whether it be ialfe or no , do yer
divuiiie it as anabfolute certainty, or at
G leait
fo The Government of the Tongue.
lead with fuch artificial infinuations, as
may biafs the hearer on that hand. The
former of thefc is a crime of foliigh , fo
difingcnuous a nature , that tho many
are vile enough to commit it , none are
fo impudent as to avow it. Even in
this age of infulting vice , when almoft
all other wickednefs appears bare-fac'd,
this is feign to keep on the vizard. No
mian will own himfelfs a falfe accufer : for
if modefty do not reflrain him , yet his
very malice will ; fince to confefs would
be to defeat his defign. Indeed it is of
all other fins the mod Diabolical, it be-
ing a conjunftion of two of Satans mofl
efiential properties, Malice and Lying.
We know 'tis his peculiar title to be the
'xJ^ccufer of the brethren: and when we
tfanfcribe his copy , we alfo afiiime his
nature , intitle our felves to a defcent from
him , Te are of your Father the TDevil^
Jdh. 8. 44. We are by it rcnder'd a fort
of Incubm brats , the infamous progenies
of the Lying fpirit. It is indeed a fin of fo
grbfs, fo formidable a bulk , that there
needs no help of Optics to render it dif-
cernible , and therefore I need not farther
"expatiate on it.
^v^J>. The next degree is not much
fliort
Sect. V. Of Lying defamation. 51
fhort of it ; what it wants is rather of
invention then mahce : for he that will
fo adopt anothers lie , fhews he would
willingly have bin its proper Father. It
do's indeed differ no more then the maker
of adulterate wares , do's from the vender
of them : and certainly there cannot be a
more ignominious trade, then the be-
ing Huckfters to fuch vile Merchandize.
Neither is the fin Icfs then thebafenefs:
we find the Lover of a lie ranked '\x\ an
equal form of guilt with the Maker ^
Rev. 21. And furely he mud be prefu-
med to love it , that can defcend to be the
broker to it, help it to pafs current in the
world.
4. T H E third fort of Detraftors look
a little more demurely, and with the
woman in the Proverbs, Chap. 30. wij^e
their mouths , and fay they have don no
wickednefs. They do not certainly know
the falfity of what they report ; and
their ignorance muft ferve them as an
Amulet againft the guilt both of deceit
and mahce : but I fear it will do neither.
For firft perhaps they are affecftedly i-
gnorant: they are fo willing it lliould
be true, that they have not attemted to
examine it. But Secondly it do's not
G 1 fufltce
^z The Government of the Tongue.
fuffice that I do not know the falfity ;
for to make me a true fpeaker , 'tis ne-
ceffary I know the truth ofwhat I affirm.
Nay if the think were never fo true , yet if
I knew It not to be fo , its truth will not
fecurc me from being a liar: and there-
fore whoever endeavors to have thatre-
ceiv'd for a certainty, which himfelf
knows not to be fo , offends againft truth.
The utmofl that can confift with fmcerity,
is to reprefcnt it to others as doubtful as
it appears to him. Yet even that how
confonant foever to truth , is not to Cha-
rity. Even doubtful accufations leave a
ftain behind them , and often prove in-
delible injuries to the party accufed : how
much more then do the more pofitive
and confident afperfions we have hither-
to fpoken of? Let me add only this
concerning this later fort, that they are
greater advancers of Defamatory deugns,
then the very firfl contrivers. For thofe
upon a confcioufnefsoftheirfalfenefsare
obliged to proceed cautioufly, to pick
out the credulous and leaft difcerning
perfons, on whom to impofe their
fictions , and dare not produce them in
all companies for fear of detedion : but
thefe in confidence that the untruth ( if it
be
Sect. V. Of Lying defamation. 53
be one) lies not at their door, fpeak it
without any reftraint in all places, at all
times ; and what the others are fain to
whifper, they proclame ; like our new En-
gine , which pretends to convey a whifper
many miles ofF. So that as in the cafe of
Stealing 'tis proverbially faid, that if
there were np receivers there would be
no thieves ; fo in this of Slander , if there
were fewer fpreaders, there would be
fewer forgers of Libels : the manufacfture
would be difcouraged, ifithadnotthefe
retailers to put off the wares.
5". Now to apply thefe pra^^ices to
our rule of duty , there will need no ve-
ry clofe infpe^tion to difcern the ob-
liquity. The mod fuperficial glance will
evidence thefe feverall degrees of Slan-
derers to do what they would not be
willing to fuffer. Who among them
can be content to be falfely afperfed? Nay
fo far are they from that , that let but the
lliadow of their own calumny reflect on
themfelves , let any but truly tell them
that they have falfely accufed others, they
grow raving and impatient , like a dog
at a looking elafs , fiercely combating
that image which himfelf creates : and
how fmgothly foevcr the original lie Aides
from
54 The Government of the Tongue.
from them, the Echoofitgratestheirears.
And indeed 'tis obfervable,that thofewho
make the greateft havockof other mens
reputation, are the mod nicely tender
of their own; which fets this fm of
calumny in a moft Diametrical oppofition
to the Evangelical precept of Loving our
neighbors as our felves.
6. Thus much is difcernable even
in the furface of the crime : but if we look
deeper and examine the motives , we fhall
find the foundation well agrees to the
fuperftrudure , they being ufually one of
thefetwo, Malice oi Inter eft. And indeed
the thing is fo difmgenuous , fo contra-
ry to the dilates of Humanity as well
as Divinity , that I mud in reverence to
our common nature, prefume it mull be
fome very forcible impellent , that can
drive a man fo far from himfelf. The
Devil here plaies the Artiil : and as the
fatalleft poifons to man are ( they fay )
drawn from human bodies , fo here he
extracts the venem of our Irafcible and
Concupifcible part , and in it dips thofe
arrows , which we thus fhoot at one a-
nother.
7. 'Tis needlefs to harangue feverally
upon each. The world too experimen-
tally
Sect. V . Of Lying 'Defamation. ^ 5-
tally knows the force of both. Malice is
that whirlwind , which has fliook States
and Families , no lefs then private Per-
fons ; a paflion fo impetuous and preci-
pitate , that it often equally involves the
Agent and the Patient: a malicious
man being of like violence with thofc
who flung in the three Children , Dan. 3 .
confumed by thofc flames into which he
cafl others. As for hitereft , 'tis that
univerfal Monarch to which all other
Empires are Tributaries , to which men
facrifice not only their Confciences and
Innocence, but (what is ufually much
dearer ) their Senfuahties and Vices.
Thofe whom all the Divine (either)
threats or promifes , cannot pcrfwade to
mortify, nay but reflrain one Luft; at
Mammons beck will difclame many,
and force their inclinations to comply
with their Intereft
8. And whilfl this fin of Calumny
has two fuch potent Abettors , we are not
to wonder at its growth : as long as men
are malicious and defigning, they will
be traducing; thofe Cyclops's will be
perpetually forging Thunderbolts, a-
gainfl which no innocence or vertue
can be proof. And alas we daily find
too
5 6 The Government of the Tongue.
too great effect of their induftry. But tho
thefe are the forgers of the morefolemn
dchbcrate calumnies , yet this fportive
age hath produced another fort ; there
being men that defame others by way
ofdivertifement , invent little (lories that
they may find themfclves exercife, and
the Town talk. This, ifitmuftpafsfor
fport , is fuch as Solomon defcribes , Prov.
i6. i8 , 19. As a mad man that cafleth
firebrands , arrows and death , fo is he
that deceiveth his neighbor , and faith , am
not I'm fport 1 He that Ihoots an arrow
in jeft , may kill a man in earned ; and
he that gives himfelfliberty to play with
his neighbors fame , may foon play ir
away. Moil men have fuch an aptnefs
to entertain fmifter opinions of others ,
that they greedily draw in any fuggeftion
of that kind; and one may as eafily per-
fvvade the thirfty earth to refund the wa-
ter fhe has fiickt into her veins, as them
to depofite a prejudice they have once
taken up. Therefore fuch experiments
upon fame, are as dangerous as that
which Alexander is faid to have made of
the force of Naphtha upon his Page ,
from which he fcarce efcaped with life.
Thefe jocular (landers are often as
mifchie-
Sect. V. Of Lying defamation. ^j
mifchievous as thofe of deeper deflgti ,
and have from the flightnefs of the tem-
tation an enhancement of guilt. For
fure he that can put fuch an intercft
of his neighbors in balance with a little fit
of laughter , fets it at lower price then he
that hopes to enrich or advance him-
fclf by it : and tho it pafs among fome
for a fpecimen of Wit, yet it really
lifts them amons; Solomons fools , who
make a mock at jin , Prov. 14. 9. In the
mean time fmce ilandcr is a plant that
can grow in all foils , fmce the frolick
humor as well as the morofe berraies to
the guilt, who can hope to efcape this
Scourge of the Tongue , as the Wifeman
calls it, Ec. 26. 6. which communicates
with all ? Perfons of all ranks do mutually
afperfe , and are afperfed : fo that he who
would not have his credulity abufed , has
fcarcc a fecurer way , then ( like that
Aftrologer, who made his Almanack
give a tolerable account of the weather
by a dired inverfion of the common
prognofticators , ) to let his belief run
quite counter to reports. Yea fo Epi-
demic is this difeafe grown, that even
religion (at leaft thofe parties and fa-
<^ions which afTume that name) has got
H a
5 8 The Government of the Tongue.
a taint of it ; each feft or opinion feek-
ing to reprefent its Antagonill as odious
as it can. And whilfl they contend for
fpcculative truth , they by mutual calum-
nies forfeit the praftic: a thing that
juflly excites the grief of good men , to
fee that thofe who all pretend to the fame
Chriftianity , ihould only be unanimous
in the violating that truth and Charity
it prefcribes.
lo. And if thefe be the weapons of
our fpiritual warfare , what may we think
of the carnal ? How are our fecular ani-
mofities purfued , when our Speculations
are thus managed ? How eafily do we
run down the reputation of any who
fland in the way either of our fpleen
or avarice ? When Jofe^hs refolute purity
had changed the fcene of his Miftrefs's
palfion , she do's as readily shift that of
guilt too , and fixes her crime upon him ,
Gen. 39. 14. So when Ziba had a mind to
undermine Mephlbosheth in his eftate , he
firft practices upon his fame in a falfe
accufation , x Sam. 16. 3 . And alas how
familiarly do we now fee both thefe fcenes
readied ? Thofe who will not take vice
into their bofoms , Ihall yet have it be-
fpatter their faces : they who will not run
to
Sect. V. Of Lying 'Defamatim. ^^
to the fame excefs of riot , muft exped
to be evil fpoken of, i Pet. 4. 4. Nay
not only pious men , but piety it felf par-
takes of the fame fate , falls under the
two edg'd flander both of deceit and fol-
ly. And if men cannot be permitted
quietly to enjoy their piety, much lefs
will they thofe things whereof the world
hath more gull , I mean fecular advan-
tages. There are flill crimes to be dif-
covered in the poffeflors of honors or E-
ftates , and they wonderfully excite the
zeal of thofe who would fupplantthem.
What artifices are there to make them ap-
pear unworthy of what they have , that
others more unworthy may fucceedtliem?
Nor are thefe ftorms only in the upper
region , in the higher ranks of men ; but
if we pafs thro all degrees , we iliall find
the difference is rather in the value of
the things , then in the means of purfuing
them. He that pretends to themeaneft
office do's as fludioufly difparagc his com-
petitor , as he that is rival'd for a king-
rdom. . Nay even he that has but a merry
humor to gratify, makes no fcrupule to do
it with the lofs of another mans reputa-
tion.
H ^ II. Thus
6o The Government of the Tongue.
II. Thus do we accommodate every
petty temporal intcrell at the coll of our
eternal : and as an unskilful Fencer, whilll
he is purfuing his thru(l,expcfes his body;
fo whilft we thus a(ftuate our own malice ,
we abandon our felves to Satans , receive
mortal wounds from him , only that we
may give a few light fcratchcs to one an-
other. For as I have before faid , there
is nothing do's more fecure his title to
us, then this vice of Calumny, it bearing
his proper imprefs and figure. And we
may fear Chrijl will one day make the
fame Judgment of pcrfons as he did of
coin , and award them to him whofe I-
mage and filler fir ipion they bear ^ Mat.
2.x. iO.
iz. And now how greatamadnefsis
it to make coftly oblations to fo vile an
Idol ? This is indeed the woriliiping our
own Imaginations , preferring a malicious
fiction before a reall felicity: and is but
faintly refembled by him, who is faid to
have chofen to part with his Bilhopric,
rather then burn his Romance. Alas
are there not grofs corporal fins c-
nough to ruine us, but muftwki have
aereal ones too , damn our felves with
Chimera's , and by thefe forgeries of our
brains
Sect, V. Of Lying IDefamatmL 6i
brains dream our felvcs to deftrudion ?
13. Let all th'ofe then who thus un-
happily employ their inventive faculty,
timely confider, how unthriving a trade
'tis finally like to prove; that all their falfe
accufations of others will rebound in true
ones upon themfelves. It do'softenfoin
this world , where many times the moil
clandeftine contrivances of this kind meet
with deted:ion. Or if they Hiould happen
to keep on the difguife here, yet 'twill
infallibly be torn ofFat the great day of
manifeftation, when before God, Angels ,
and Men , they will be render'd infinirly
more vile, then 'twas poflible for them he-
re to make others.
Sect.
6x The Government of the Tongue.
Sect. VI.
Of Uncharitahle Truth,
I. TN the next place we are to confider
JL of the other branch of Defamatory
reports, viz. fuch as are true: which tho
they mufl be confeft to be of a lower form
of guilt then the former , yet as to the
kind , they equally agree in the definition
of Detradion , fince 'tis pofTible to impair
a mans credit by true reports as well as by
falfe.
X. T o clear this I iliall firfl obfcrve ,
that altho every fault hatli fome penal
efTc^ls which are coetaneous to the adl ,
yet this of Infamy is not fo : this is a more
remote confequent; that which is imme-
diatly depends upon , is the publifhing.
A man may do things which to God
and his own confcience render him abo^
minable, and yet keep his reputation
with men : but when this flifled crime I
breaks out , when his fecret guilts are de- 1
tefted , then , and not till then , he be-
comes infamous : fo that altho his fm be
the
Sect. VI. Of'Vncharitable Truth. 63
the Material , yet it is the difcovery that
is the Formal caufe of his Infamy.
3 . This being granted , it follows
that he that divulges an unknown con-
celed fault, flands accountable for all the
confequences that flow from that di-
vulging ; but whether accountable as for
guilt, muft be detcrmin'd by the parti-
cular circumilances of the caufe. So that
here wx muft admit of an exception: for
tho every difcovery of anothcrs fault be
in the ftrid natural fenfe of the word a
Detracftion , yet it will not alwaies be the
fm of Detraction , becaufe in fomc inftan-
ccs there may fome higher obligation in-
jtcrvene , and fuperfede that we ow to the
fame of our neighbor ; and in thofe cafes
. it may not only be lawful , but neceffary
to expofe him.
4 Now all fuch cafes I conceive may
fummarily be reduced to two heads , Ju-
ftice and Charity. Firft as to Juftice : that
wc know is a fundamental vertue , and
he that lliall violate that, to abound in
another, isasabfurd, as he that under-
mines the foundation to raife the walls.
We are not to fteal to give alms, and
God himfelf has declared that he hates
robbery for a burnt-ofTering : io that no
pretence
^4 The Government of the Tongue.
pretence either of Charity or Piety can
abfolve us from the duty we ow to Ju-
flice. Now it may often fall out , that
by conceling one mans fault, I may be
injurious to another, pay to a whole
community: and then I afTume the guilt
I concele , and by the Laws both of God
and Man am judged an acceflbry.
^. And as juftice to others enforces ',
fo fomctimes Juftice to a mans felf al-
lows the publilhing of a fault , when a
confiderable intereft cither of fame or for-
tune cannot otherwife be refcued. But
to make loud outcries of injury , when
they tend nothing to the reprefs of
it , is a liberty rather afTumed by rage
and impatience , then authorized by Ju-
ftice. Nay often in that cafe the com-
plainer is the moft injurious Pcrfon ; for
he infli<fl:s more then he fuffers , and in
lieu of fome trivial right of his which
is invaded, he affaults the other in a
nearer intereft , by wounding him in his
good name : but if the caufe be confide-
rable and the manner regular, there
lies fure no obligation upon any man
to wrong himfelf, to indulge to ano-
ther.
6. Neither do's Charity retrench
this
Sect. VI. Of ^Uncharitable Truth. 65-
this liberty: for tho it be one a6t of
Charity to concele another mans faults,
yet fometimes it |nay be inconfiflent
with fome more important Charity,
which I own to a third Perfon , or per-
haps to a Multitude; as in thofc cafes
wherein public benefit is concern'd. If
this were not allowable, no Hiftory
could lawfully be written , fmce if true ,
■it cannot but recount the faults of many :
no evidence could be brought in againft
a Malcfador: and indeed all difcipline
would be fubverted; which would bcfo
great a mifchief , that Charity obliges
to prevent it, what Defamation foever
fall upon the guilty by it. P^or in fuch
inflances 'tis a true rule, that mercy to
the evil proves cruelty to the innocent.
And as iw a competition of mifchiefs
we are to chi^fe the lead , fo of two goods
tiie greatefl , and the more cxtenfivc , is
the mod eligible,
7. Nay even that Charity which re-
fleds upon myfelf, m ay alfo fometimes
fuperfede that to my neighbor, the rule
obhging me to love him as , not better
then my felf I need not fure filently
afl'ent to my own unjuft Defamation for
fear of proving another a falfe accufer,
I nor
66 The Government of the Tongue.
nor fuffer my felf to be made a begger ,
to conceie another mans being a thief.
*Tis true in a great inequality of intcrclls ,
Charity (whofc Charader it is. Not to
feek her o'il'h i Cor. 13. 5.) will promt
me to prefer a greater concern of my
neighbors before a flight one of my
own : but in equal circumftanccs I am
fure at liberty to be kind firft to my
felf. If I will recede even from that, I
may; but that is then to be account-
ed among the Heroic flights of Cha-
rity, not her binding and indifpenfible
Laws.
8. Having now fet the bound-
aries to the excepted cafes ; as all in-
flances within them will be legitimated ,
fo all without them will (by the known
rule of exceptions ) be precluded, and
fall under that general duty we owe to-
our neighbor, of tendering his credit:,
an obligation fo Univerfally infringed,
tliat 'tis not imaginable the breach iliould
alwaies happen within the excepted ca-:
fes. When 'tis rcmembred how unacR-ive-
the principles of Juftice and Charity are
now grown in the world, we muft cer-
tainly impute fucli inceflant effefts, to
^ome more vigorous caufes: of which it
may
Sect. VI. Of Vncharitable Truth. 6)
may not be amifs to point out fome of
the moft obvious , and leave every man
to examine which of them he finds moft
operative in himfclf.
9. In the firft place I may reckon
Tride ^ a humor which as it is alwaies
mounting , fo it will make ufe of any
foot-ftool towards it rife. A man who
afTefts an extraordinary fplcndor of re-
Eutation , is glad to find any foils to fct
im of; and therefore will let no fault
nor folly of anothers enjoy the fliade ,
but brings it into the open light, that
by that comparifon his own excellences
may appear the brighter. I dare appeal
to the brcaftofany proud man, whether
he do not upon fuch occafions , delight to
make fome Pharifaical reflections on
himfelf, whether he be not apt to fay , I
am not like other men , or as this "Publican ,
Luke 18. tho probably he leave out the
God I thank thee. Now he that cherifhes
fuch refentments as thefe in himfelf,
will doubtlefs be wiUing to propagate
them to other men ; and to that end
render the blemilhes of others as vifiblc
as he can. But this betraies a degene-
rous fpirit , which from a confcioufnefs
that he wants folid worth , on which to
I X bottom
68 The Government of the Tongue.
bottom a reputation , is fain to found it
on the ruines of other mens. The true
Diamond fparkles even in the funfhine:
'tis but a glow-worm vertue , that owsits
lufter to the darkncfs about it.
lo. Another promter to Detra-
(ftion is Envy , which fometimes is par-
ticular, fometimes general. He that has
a pique to another, would have him
as hateful to all mankind as he is to him;
and therefore as he grieves and repines
at any thing that may advance his efti-
mation, fo he exults and triumphs when
any thing occurs which may deprefs it ,
and is ufually very induftrious to im-
prove the opportunity , nay has a flrange
lagacity in hunting it out. No vul-
ture do's more quickly fcent a carcafs,
then an envious Perfon do's thofe dead
flies which corrupt his neighbors oint-
ment, Ecclef. lo. I. the vapor whereof
his hate , hke a Itrong wind , fcatters and
difperfes far and near. Nor needs he
any great crime to pradice on : every lit-
tle infirmity or pafTion , lookt on thro
his Optics , appears a mountainous guilc
He can improve the leaft fpeck or jfrec-
kle into a leprofy , which fhall over-
ij^read the whole man : and a cloud no b'tg-
ger
S EC X, Y I. Of Vnchar'ttable Truth. 69
ger then a mans hand like that of Elisha ,
I Kings 18. 44. may in an inftant, with
the help of prejudice , grow to the utter
darkning of the brighteft reputation , and
fill the whole horizon with tempefl and
horror. Sometimes this Envy is gene-
ral , not confin'd to any man perfon ,
but difTufcd to the whole nature. Some
tempers there are fo malign , that they
wish ill to ail , and bchevc ill of all ; like
Timon the Athenian , who profeft him-
felf an univerfal man-hater. He whofe
guilty confcience reflecn:s difmal images
of himfelf ; is willing to put the fame
ugly shape upon the whole nature, and
to conclude that all men are the fame ,
were they but clofely infpecfled. And
therefore when he can fee but the leaft
ghmmering of a fault in any , he takes it
as a proof of his Hypothefis, and with
an envious joy calls in as many fpefta-
tors as he can. 'Tis certain there are
fome in whofe ears nothing founds fo
harlli as the commendation of another,
as on the contrary nothing is fo melodi-
ous as a Defamation. Plutarch gives an
apt inftance of this upon Ariftiaess ba-
nilhmcnt, whom when a mean Perfon
had propos'd tg Oftracifm , being askt
what
70 The Government of the Tongue.
what dilplefure Arifttdes had don him ,
he rephed , None , neither do I know
him , but it grieves me to hear every body
call him a jnft man. 1 fear fome of
our V.^zn^^ accufers now a dales may-
give the fame anfwer. No man that is
eminent for Piety ( or indeed but mo-
ral vertue ) but he Ihall have many in-
fidious eies upon him watching for his
halting", and if any the lead obliquity
can be efpied , he is ufed worfe then the
vileft malefactor : for fuch are tried but
at one bar, and know the utmoil of
their doom ; but thefe are arraigned at
every Table , in every Tavern, And at
fuch variety of Judicatures , there will
be as great variety of fentences ; only
they commonly concur in this one , that
he is an Hypocrite, and then what com-
placency,what triumph have they in fuch
a difcovery ? There is not half fo much
Epicurifm in any of their mofl fludied
luxuries , no fpe6lacle affords them fo
much plefure , as a bleeding fame thus
lying at their mercy.
II. Another fort of Detradors there
are , whofe defignes are not fo black , bur are
equally mean and fordid , much too light
to be put in balance with a neighbors
Cre-
S E c T. V I. Of 'Uncharitable Truth. 7 1
Credit. Of thofe fome will pick up all
tlie little (lories they can get, tohumcfl-
a Patron: an artifice well known by
thofe trencher guefts , who , like Rats ,
flill haunt the beft Provifions. Thefc
men do almoft come up to a literal
fenfe of what the Tfalmift fpoke in a
figurative, Pfalm. 14. and eat up feople
for bread , tear and worry men in their
good names , that themfelves may eat.
It was a Curfe denounced againft EHi
ofF-fpring, that they should come and
crouch for a morfel of bread i Sam. x.
39. But fuch men court this as a pre-
ferment , and to bring themfelves with-
in the reach of it ftick not to alTume
that vilefl: office of common Delators.
There are others who when they have
got the knowledg of another mans fault ,
think it an endearing think to whifper
it m the ear of fome friend or confi-
dent. But fure if they mud needs fa-
crifice fome fecrec to their friendfhip,
they iliould take T^avids rule , and not
offer that which coH them nothing. If
they will exprefs their confidence , let
them acquaint them with their own pri-
vate crimes. That indeed would show
fomthing of truft: but thefe experiments
upon
ni The Government of the Tongue.
upon another mans cofl, will hardly con-
•\ance any confidcring Perfon of their
kindnefs.
IX. There flill remains a yet more
trifling fort of Defaniers , who have no
dehberate dcfign which they piirfuc in
it, yet are as alfiduous at the Trade as
the deeper contrivers. Such are thofe .
who pubhih their neighbors failings as
they read Gazers , only that they may
be telling News : an Itch wherewith fome
peoples tongues are flrangely over-run,
who call as well hold a glowing Coal in
their mouths , as keep any thing they
think New ; nay will fomctimes run them-
felves out of breath, for fear leaft any
fliould ferve them as Ahimaaz did Cu-
shi X. Sam. i8. 23. and tell the tale
before them. This is one of themoft
Childifli vanities imaginable: andfure
men muil have Souls of a very low le-
vel , that can think it a comnienfurate
entertainment. Others there aire :-wliO'»
ufe Defamatory difcourfe, neither for'
the love of News, nor Defamation, bur
purely for love of talk: whofe fpecch
like a flowing current bears away indif-^'
criminateiy whatever lies in its way. And'
indeed fuch inceffant talkers , are ufually-^
peo-
S E c T . V I. Of Uncharitable Truth. 7 3
people, nor of deptli enough to fupply
themfelves out of their own flore , and
therefore can let noforreign acceffionpafs
by them ; no more then the Mill which
is alwaies going, can afford any waters
to run waft. I know we ufe to call this
Talkativenefs a Feminine vice ; but to
fpeak impartially , I think , tho we have
given them the inclofureof the Scandal ,
they have not of the fault , and he that
fliall appropriate Loquacity to Women ,
may perhaps fometimes need to light
^iogenes's Candle to feek a man : for
'tis poffible to go into Mafculine com-
pany, where 'twill be as hard to edg
in a word, as at a Female Goffiping.
However as to this particular of Defa-
ming , both the Sexes feem to be at a
vie: and I think he were a very Cri-
tical Judg , that could determine between
them.
13. N o NT left this later fort of
Defamcrs lliould be apt to abfolve
themfelves , as men of harmlefs inten-
tions , I fhall defirc them to confider ,
that they are only more impertinent,
not lefs injurious. For tho it be grant-
ed , that the proud and envious are to
make a diftind account for their pride
K and
74 The Government of the Tongue.
and envy ; yet as far as relates to the
neighbor, they are equally mifchievous.
i^micreon that was choakcd with a
grape-flonc, died as furelyas 'Julius Ce-
Jar with his three and twenty wounds ;
and a mans reputation may be as well
fool'd and prattled away , as malicioufly
betraied. Nay perhaps more eafiiy ; for
where the fpeaker can lead be fufpedcd
of defign , the hearer is apter to give him
Credit : this way of infinuating by fa-
mihar difcourfe , being like thofe poifons
that are taken in at the pores , which
are the moft infenfibly lucked in , and the
moil impofTible to expel.
14. But we need not dlfpute which
is worft , fmce 'tis certain all are bad ,
none of them ( or any that hold pro-
portion with them ) being at all able to
pretend their' warrant either from Ju-
ftice or Charity. And then what our
Savior faics in another cafe , will be ap-
pliable to this , He that is not for us is
agatnji tis , Mat. ix 30. He that in pub-
lilhing his neighbors faults , acls not
upon the dictates of Juflice or Charity,
a(5i:s dired:ly in contradiction to them :
for where they do not upon fome par-
ticular refpeds command , they do im-
plicitly
S E c T. V I. Of Uncharitable Truth. 7 ^
plicitly and generally forbid all fuch dif-
coveries.
If. For firft if a fault divulged be
of a light nature , the olTcnder cannot
thereby merit fo much , as to be made
a public difcourfe. Fame is a tender
thing, and feldom is toft and bandied
without receiving feme bruife, if not
a crack : for reports we know like fnow-
balls gather ftill the farther they roul :
and when I have once handed it to
another , how know I how he may
improve it? And if he deliver it fo ad-
vanced to a third, he may give his con-
tribution alfo to it , and fo in a fuccef-
five tranfmitting , it may grow to fuch a
monftrous bulk , as bears no proportion
to its Original. He muft be a great
fbranger to the world , that has not ex-
perimentally found the truth of this.
How many pcrfons have lain under
great and heavy fcandals , which have ta-
ken their firft rife only from fome in-
advertence or indifcrction? Of fo quick
a growth is Slander, that the leaft grain,
like that of muftard feed , mentioned
Mat. 13. 3x. immediatly flioots up into
a tree. And when it is fo , it can no
jnore be reduced back into its firft caufe,
K L then
y6 The Government of the Tongue.
then a tree can fhrink into that httlc feed
from whence it firft fprang. No ruins
are fo irreparable as thofe of reputation;
and therefore he that pulls out but one
(lone towards the breach , may do a
greater mifchief then perhaps he intends ;
and a greater injuftice too: for by how
much the more ftridlly Juftice obhges to
reparation in cafe of injuries don , fo
much the morefeverely do's it prohibit
the doing thofe injuries which are unca-
pable of being repared. In the Leviti-
call Law he that knew his ox was apt
to gore, and yet kept him not up,
flood refponfible for any mifchief he
happened to do, Exod. xi. 29. I think'
there is no confidering man can be ig-
norant how apt little trivial accufati'
ons are to tear and mangle ones fame :
and yet if the lavilli talker reftrain them
not, he certainly flands accountable to
God , his Neighbor , and his own Con-
fciencc , for all the danger they pro-
cure.
16. But if the report concern fome
higher and enormous crime , 'tis true the
delinquent may deferve the lefs pity,
yet perhaps the reporter may not de-
ferve the lefs blame : for often fuch a
dif-
S E c T. VI. Of "Uncharitable Truth. 77
difcovery ferves , not to reclame but to
enrage the offender, and precipitate him
into farther degrees of ill. Modefly and
fear of fhame , is one of thofe natural
reflraints which the vvifdom of God has
put upon mankind , and he that once
Humbles , may yet by a check of that
bridle recover again : but when by a
public dcte(^ion he is fallen under that
infamy he fcar'd , he will then be apt to
difcard all caution , and to think he ow*s
himfelf the utmofl plefurcs of his vice ,
as the price of his reputation. Nay
perhaps he advances farther , and fets
up for a reverfl fort of Fame , by being
eminently wicked : and he who before
was but a Clandefline difciple, becomes
a Do6lor of impiety. And fure it w^ere
better to let a conceled crime remain in
its wilht obfcuriy , then by thus rouz-
ing it from its covert , bring it to ftand
at bay , and fet it felf in this open defi-
ance; efpeciallyin this dcgenerous age,
when vice has fo many well willers , that /
like a hoping party , they eagerly run into
any that will head them.
17. And this brings in a third confi-
deration relating to the public , to which
the divulging of private (efpecially if
they
78 The Government of the Tongue. .»
they be novel unufual ) crimes , do's but
an ill piece of fervice. Vice is contagi-
ous, and caiispcflilcntial vapors and as
he that fliould bring out a plague-rick
Pcrfon ^ to inform the world of his dif-
eafe , would be thought not to have
much Ipcfriended his neighborhood; fo
^le that dijCplaics thefe vicious Ulcers,
whilft he feeks to defame one , may per-
haps infefl many. Wc too experimen-
tally find the force of ill examples. Mei\
often take up fins , to which they have
no natural propenfion, merely by way
of conformity and imitation. But if the
inftance happen in a crime , which more
fuits the prac^tice of the hearers , tho it^
cannot be faid to feduce, yet it may en-
courage and confirm them , embolden,
them not only the more frequently ta
a(^, but even to avowthofe fins wherein
they find they fland not fingle , and by
difcovering a new accefi^ary to their Par-,
ty, to invite them the more heartily and^
openlytoefpoufeit.,r,j,r ,;- r.^
18. These are fuchefteftsasfurelydo|
not very well correfpond with that JufticC;
and Charity we ow either to particular
Perfons , or to mankind in General.^
And indeed no better can be expecFted ,j
from
Sect. VI. OfVncharitableTruth. 79
fi oin a prav^ce which fo perfectly con-
tradic^is the grand rule both of Juftice
and Charity , the doing as we would be
don to. That this do's fo , every man
has a ready conviction within him , if
he pleafe but to confult his own heart.
Alas with what folicitude do we feek to
hide our own guilts with falfe dreffes,
what varnijQies have \\<^ for them ? There
are not more arts of difguifing our Cor-
poral blemiihes , then our Moral : and
yet whilfl we thus paint and parget our
own deformities , we cannot allow any
the lead imperfection of anothers to re-
main undetected, but tear off the veil
from their blulhing frailties , and not on-
ly expofe but proclame them. And can
there be a groffer, a more deteftablc
partiality then this ? God may fure in
this inftance (as in many others) expo-
(lulate with us as he did with Ifrael , Ezek.
33. Are not your wa'tes une quail: What
Barbarifm, what inhumanity is it thus
to treat thofe of the fame common na-
ture with our felves , whom we cannot
but know have the fame concern to
preferve a Reputation , and the fame
regret to lofe it , which we have ? And
what Ihame is it , that that Evangelical
precept
oo The Government of the Tongue.
precept, of doing as we would be don'
to , which met with fo much reverence
even from Heathens , that Severiis the
Emperor prcferr'd it to all the Maxims
of Philofophers ; fliould be thus contem-
ned and violated by Chriflians, and that
too upon fuch flight inconfiderable mo-
tives asufually prevail in this cafe of De-
famation ?
19. But we. are not to confir-
der this fault only in its root as it is a
defect of Juftice and Charity , but in its
produ6l to, as it is a Seminary of more
injuflice and Uncharitablcnefs. Thofe
difadvantageous reports we make of our
neighbors, are almoft feen to come round:
for let no man perfwadc himfelf , that
the hearers will keep his counfel any
better then he do's that of the defamed
Perfon. The fofteft whifoer of this kind,
will find others to Echo it , till it reach
the ears of the concerned Party, ancT
perhaps with fome enhancing circum-
flances too. And when 'tis confider'd how
unwilling men are to hear of their faults,
tho even m the mildefl and mofb chari-
table way of admonition , 'tis not to be
doubted a public Defamation , will feem
difobliging enough to provoke a return ;
which
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 8i
which again begets a rejoinder , and fo
the quarrel is carried on with mutual
recriminations ; all malicious inquiries
arc made into each others manners , and
thofe things which perhaps they did in
clofcts , come to be proclamcd upon the
houfe top : fo the wild-fire runs round ,
till fometimes nothing but blood will
quench it ; or if it arrive not to that ,
yet it ufually fixes in irreconcileable
feud. To this is often owing thofe di-
fiances we fee among friends and re-
lations ; this breeds fuch ftrangenefs ,
fuch animofities amongft neighbors , that
you cannot go to one , but you ihall
be entertain'd with inve(5livesagain(l the
other ; nay perhaps you fliall lofe both ,
becaufe you are willing to fide with
neither.
xo. These are the ufual confequen-
ccs of the liberty of the Tongue : and
what account can any man give to him-
felf, either in Chriftianity or prudence,
that has let in fuch a train of mifchiefs ,
merely to gratify an impotent childiHi
humor of telling a tale? Peace was the
great Legacy Chriftleft to his followers »
and ought to be guarded, tho we expofe
for it our greatefl temporal concerns ,
L but
8i The Government of the Tongue.
but cannot without defpight to him,
as well as our brethren , be thus prolti-
tutcd.
II. Yet if we confider it abftrad-
edly from thofe more folemn mifchiefs
which attend it, the mere levity and
unworthinefs of it fcts it below an in-
genious Perfon. We generally think a
tatler and bufy-body a title of no fmall
reproch : yet truly I know not to whom
it more juftly belongs , then to thofe ,
who bufy themfelvcs firfl in learning ,
and then in publilliing the faults ofo-
thers : an emploiment which the Apoflle
thought a blot , even upon the weaker
fex , and thinks the prevention of fuch
importance , that he prefcribes them to
change their whole condition of life ; to
convert widow-hood ( tho a Hate which
in other refpe(R:s he much prefers , i Cor.
7. 8. ) into marriage, rather then ex-
pofe themfelves to the temtation , i Tim.
5". 13 , 14. And if their impotence can-
not afford excufe for it, what a de-
bafement is it of mens nobler faculties
to be thus entertain'd? The Hiftorian
gives it as an ill indication of ^omitians
temper, that he emploi'd himfelf in catch-
ing and tormenting Flies : and fure they
fall
Sect. VI. OfVncharitableTruth, 83
fall not under a much better charaftcr,
either for wifdom , or good nature , who
thus fnatch up all the little fluttering re-
ports , they can meet with to the preju-
dice of their neighbors.
11. But befides the divulging the
faults of others, there is another branch
of Detraction naturally fpringing from
this root y and this is cenfuring and fe-
vere judging of them. We think not
we have well plai'd the Hiflorians , when
we have told the thing, unlefs we add
alfo our remarks ; and animadverfions
on it. And altho 'tis, God knows, bad
enough to make a naked relation , and
trull it to the feverity of the hearers ; yet
few can content themfelves with that,
but muft give them a fample of rigor ,
and by thcbitternefsof their own cenfure
invite them to pafs the like : a procefs
contrary to all rules of Law or equity,
for the PlantifF to aflume the part of
a Judg. And we may eafily divine the
fate of that mans fame , that is fo unduly
tried.
23. 'Tis indeed fad to fee how many
private tribunals are every where fet
up , where we fcan and Judg our neigh-
bor's adion, but fcarce ever acquit any,
L ?, Wc
84 The Government of the Tongue.
Wc take up with the mofl; incompetent
\vitncircs, nay often fuborn ourownfur-
mifes and jcaloufies , that we may be fure
to caft: the unhappy Criminal. How nice-
ly and fcrupuloufly do we examine every
circumflance; (Would God w^e were but
half as exacl: in our own penitential in-
quifitions) and torture it to make it
confefs fomcthing which appears not in
the more general view of the fad: , and
which perhaps neyer was in the actors
intention? In a word we do hke witches
with their Magical Chymiflry , extract all
the venem , and take none of the allay.
By this means we confound the degrees
of fms , and fentence deliberate and inde-
liberate , an habit or an aft all at one rate ,
that is commonly , at the utmoft it can
amount to , even in its worfe accepti-
on: and fure this were a mofl culpa-
ble corruption in judgment, could we
fhew our commifTion to judg our bre--
thren.
X4. But here we may every one of
us interrogate our felves in our Savior's
words , IVho made me a Judg ? Luke ii.
14. And if he difclam'd it, who in re-
fpeft: of his Divinity had the Supreme
right, and that too in a cafe wherein
one
Sect. VI. Of Vncharit able Truth. 8^
one ( at leaft ) of the Litigants had de-
fired his interpofltioii, what a boldnefs
is it in us to afTume it, where to fuch
appeal is made to us , but on the con-
trary the party difowns our Autority?
Nay (which is infinitely more) 'tis fuper-
feded by our great Law-giver, in that
cxprefs prohibition, Mat. 7. i. Jtidg
fiot , and that back'd with a fevere pe-
nalty, that ye be not judged? As God
hath appropriated vengeance to himfelf ,
fo has he Judicature alfo; and 'tis an in-
vafion of his peculiar , for any ( but his
Delegates the lawful Magiftrates) to
pretend to either. And indeed in all pri-
vate Judgment, fo much depends upon
the intention of the Offender , that un-
lefs we could poflefs our felves of Gods
Omnifcience , 'twill be as irrational as
impious to afTume his Autority. Until
we know mens hearts , we are at the
beft but imperfect Judges of their acti-
ons. At our rate of judging St. Paul
had furcly pafs'd for a mofl malicious
Perfccutor , whereas God faw he did /-
gnorantly in unbelief, and upon that in-
tuition had mercy on him, i. Tim. i.
13. 'Tis therefore good counfel which
the Apoftle gives, i. Cor. 4. 5-. Judg
nothing
86 The Government of the Tongue,
nothing before the time until the Lord
come. For tho 'tis faid the Saints shall
judg the Worlds i. Cor. 6. 3 , yet it mud
be at the great affize , and he that will
needs intrude himfclf into the office be-
fore the time , will be in danger to be
rather Paffive then Active in the Judica-
tory. I do not here advifetofuchaftu-
pid charity as fliall make no diftin^lion
of Adions. I know there is a wo pro-
nounced as well to thofe who call evil
good, a^ good evil. Surely, when we fee
an open notorious fin committed, we
may exprefs a deteflation of the Crime ,
tho not of the A^lor; nay ix. mayfome-
times be a neceflary Charity , both to
the Offender , and to the innocent Spe-
ftators , as an Amulet to keep them from
the Contagion of the Example. But dill
even in thefe cafes , our Sentence muft
not exceed the evidence , we muft judg
only according to the vifible undoubted
circumftances , and not agravate the
crime upon prefumtions and conjectures ;
if we do , how right foever our guefTes
may be , our judgment is not , but we
are as St. James (peaks , 'Judges of evil
thoughts ^ Chap. x. 4.
xs*. Indeed this ralh judging
is
T" T— IB
S E c T . V I. OfVncharitable Truth. 8 7
is not only very unjuft both to God and
man , but it is an a^t of the greateft pride.
When we fet our felves in the tribunal,
we alwaies look down with contemt on
thofe at the bar. And certainly there
is nothing do's fo gratify , fo regale a
haughty humor , as this piece of ufurpt
Soverainty over our brethren : but the
more it do's fo , the greater necefTity there
is to abftain from it. Pride is a hardy
kind of vice , that will live upon the bareft
paflure : you cannot flarve it with the
mod induftrious mortifications : how lit-
tle need is there then of pampering and
heightning it, which we cannot more
effcdually do, then by this cenforious hu-
mor? for by that we are fo perpetually
emploi'd abroad , that we have no leifure
to look homeward, and fee our own de-
fects. We are like the inhabitants of ^/,
Jof 8. fo eager upon the purfuit of others ,
that wc leave our felves expos'd to the
ambullies of Satan , who will be fure dill
to encourage us in our chafe , draw us ftill
farther and farther from our felves, and
cares not how zealous we are in fight-
ing againft the crimes of others , fo he
ca:i but keep that zeal from recoiling upon
our own.
2.6. Lad-
88 The Government of the Tongue.
• ^6. Lastly this judging others is
one of the higheft violations of Charity.
The Apoflle gives it as one of the pro-
perties of that grace , that it thinks noe-
vil f i. e.J is notapttomakefeverc con-
llrudions , but fets every thing in the
fairefl hght, puts the mod candid inter-
pretations that the matter will bear. And
truly this is of great importance to the
reputation of our neighbors. The world
we know is in many inflances extreme-
ly governed by opinion , but in this 'tis
all in all ; it has not only an influence
upon it , but is that very thing : reputa-
tion being nothing but a fair opinion
and eflimation among others. Now this
opinion is not alwaies fwaied by due
motives : fometimes little accidents , and
often fancy , and ofteft prepod'effion go-
verns in it. So that many times he that
puts the firfl ill Character, fixes the
llamp w^hich afterwards goes current in
the world. The generality of people
take up prejudices ( as they do religions )
upon truft : and of thofe that are more
curious in inquiring into the grounds ,
there are not many \\\\o vary on the
more charitable hand , or bring the com-
mon fentence to review, with intent to
mo-
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 89
moderate but inhance it. Men are apt
to think it fome difparagement to their
acutenefs and invention , if they can-
not fay fomething as fliarp upon the fub-
jed, as has bin faid before; and fo 'tis the
bufmefs of many to lay on more load ,
but of few to take off: and therefore he
that paffes the firil condemnatory fcn-
tence, is like the incendiary in a popular
tumult, who is chargeable with all thofe
difordcrs to which he gave the firft rife,
tho that free not his Abettors from their
ihare of the guilt.
xy. And as this is very uncharitable
in refpeift of the injury offer'd , fo alfo
is it in refleflion on the grand rule of
Charity. Can we pretend to love our
neighbors as our felves , and yet ihall
our love to him have the quite contrary
effefts to that we bear our felves ? Can
felf-love leflen our beam into a mote ,
and yet can our love to him magnify
his mote into a beam ? No certainly , true
Charity is more fincere , do's not turn
to us the reverfe end of the perfpedive ,
to reprefent our ownfaultsatadiflance,
and in the moft diminutive fize , and
yet fliufHe the other to us when we are
to view his. No , thefe are Tricks of
M Le-
po The Government of the Tongue.
Legerdemain we read in another Schole ,
even in his whofe (tile is the accufer of
the brethren. We know how frequently
God protcfls againfl: falfe weights and
falfe mefures. And fure 'tis not only in
the fliop or market that he abhors them ,
they are no lefs abominable in conver-
fation then in traffic. To buy by one
mefure and fell by another , is not more
unequal , then it is to have thefe differing
ilandards for our own and our neigh-
bors faults , that our own ihall weigh, in
the Prophet Jeremies Phrafe , lighter then
vanity, yea nothing, and yet his (tho
really the lighter ) ihall prove Zacharies
talent of lead. This is fuch a partialr
lity, as confirts not with common ho-
nefty , and can therefore never be recon-
ciled with Chridian Charity: and how
demurely foever fuch men may pretend
to fanc^ity, that interrogation of God
preffes hard upon them, shall I count
them pttre with the wicked balances , and
with the bag of deceitful weight si Mich.
6. 11. Such bitter inve^lives againfl o-
ther mens faults , and indulgence or pal-
liation of their own, fhevvs their zeal
lies in their fpleen , and that they con-
fider not fo much what is don , as w^ho
do's
Sect. VI. OfVncharit able Truth. 91
do's ix. : and to fuch the fentence of the
Apoflle is very applicable, Rom. 1. i.
Therefore thou art tnexcu fable , O man ,
whofoever thou art that jitdgeft.for where-
in thou judgeH another tloou condemnefi
thy felf , for thou that judgefi dojt the
fame thing. But admit a man have not
the very fame guilts he cenfures in an-
other , yet 'tis lure every man has fome ;
and of what fort foevcr they be , he de-
fires not they ihoUld berigoroudyfcan'd,
and therefore by the rule of Charity ,
yea and Juftice too, ought not to do
that which he would not fuffer. If he
can find extenuations for his own crimes ,
he is in all reafon to prefume others may
have fo for theirs : the common frailty
6f our nature, as it is apt alike to betray
Us to faults , fo it gives as equal fliare
in the excufe ; and therefore what I would
have pafs for the efFe6l of impotency or
inadvertence in my felf, I can with no
tolerable ingenuity give a worfc name
to in him.
28. We have now viewed both thefe
branches of Detraftion, feen both the
fm and mifchiefs of them ; we may now
join them together in a concluding ob-
servation , which is , that they are as im-
M % prudent
9^ The Government of the Tongue.
prudent as they are unchrillian. It has
bin received among the maxims of civil
life , not unncceffarily to exafperate any
body; to which agrees the advice of an
ancient Philofopher , Speak not evil of
thy neighbor, if thou doft thou flialt
hear that which will not fail to trouble
thee. There is no Pcrfon fo inconfide-
rable , but may at fome time or other
do a difplefure : but in this of Defaming
men need no hainefling , no preparation ^.
every man has his weapons ready for a
return: fo that none can flioot thefe ar-
rows , but they mufl expert they will re-
vert with a rebounded force; not only
to the violation of Chriftian Unity (as
I have before obferv'd ) but to the Ag-
grefTors great fecular detriment, both
in fame , and oftentimes intereft alfo. Re-
venge is fliarp-fighted , and overlooks no
opportunity of a retaliation; and that
commonly not bounded as the Levitical
ones were , j^ri cie for an e'le , a tooth for
a toothy Exod. ii. 1^f. no nor by the
larger proportions of their reftitutions
fourfold^ Exod. ix. i. but extended
to the utmoft power of the infli61:er.
The examples are innumerable of men
who have thus laid ihemfelves open in
their
Sect. VI. Of Vncharit able Truth. 93
their greateft concerns, and have let loofe
. the hands as well as Tongues of others a-
gainfl them, merely becaufe they would
put no reftraint upon their own : which is
fo great indifcretion, that to them we
may well apply that of Solomon , A fools
mouth M his aeJtruB'wn , and his Itfs are the
fnare of his foul. Prov. 18. 7.
'■/'. 19. And now who can fufficiently
wonder , that a practice that fo thwarts
our interefl of both worlds , fliould come
univerfally to prevail among us ? Yet
that it do's fo , I may appeal to the
confciences of moft , and to the obfer-
Tation of all. What fo common To-
pic of difcourfe is there , as this of back-
biting our neighbors ? Come into com-
pany of all Ages , all Ranks , all Pro-
leflions, this is the conflant entertain-
ment: And I doubt he that at neighc
/liall duly recoiled: the occurrences of
the day, fliall very rarely be able to fay; he
has fpent it without hearing orfpeaking
( perhaps both ) fomewhat of this kind.
Nay even thofe who reflrain themfelves
other liberties, are often apt to indulge
to this : many who are fo juft to their
neighbors property, that as Abraham
once faid, Gen. 14. ^3. they would not
take
t^4 The Government of the Tongue.
take from htm , even from a thred to a Jhoe
latchet , are yet fo inconfiderate of his
Fame, as to find themfelves difcourfe
at the expence of that, tho infinitly a
greater injury then the robbing of his
Coffer: which fhew's whatfalfemefures
we are apt to take of things , and evin-
ces that many of thofe , who have not
only in general abjur'd the world in their
baptifm , but do in many inftances feem
to themfelves ( as well as others ) to have
gain'd a fuperiority over it , do yet in
this undifcernably yield it the greateft
enfign of Soverainty , by permitting it to
fcttthe ftandards and eflimates of things ,
and taking its cuftomary Prefcriptions
for Law^s. For what befides this un-
happy fervility to cuftom , can poffibly
recodcile men that own Chrillianity *
to a pra<fticc fo widely diflant from it ?
'Tis true thofe that profefs themfelves
men of this w^orld , w^ho defign only their
portion in this life , may take it up as
fometimes conducing (atleaflfeemingly)
to their end; but for thofe w4io propofe
higher hopes to themfelves , and know
that Charity is one of the main props
to thofe hopes , how foolilhly do they
undermine themfelves , when they thus
aa
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 9^
aft againfl their principles, and that up-
on no other Autority , but that of popular
ufage ? I know men are apt to excufe
themfelves upon their indignation againft
vice , and think that their zeal muft as
well acquit them for this violation of
the fecond Table , as it once did Mofes
for the breaking both , Ex. 3x. 19. But
to fuch I may anfwer in Chrifts words ,
Luke 9. 55. Te know not what manner
of fpirit you are of Meeknefs and
Charity are the Evangelical graces ,
which will moft recommend and affi-
milate us to him , who was meek and
lowly in heart. But after all this pre-
text of Zeal, I fear it is but a cheat we
putonourfelves , the Eider brothers rai-
ment only to difguife the Supplanter.
Gen. i-j. Let men truly ranfack their
own breads , and I doubt the bed will
find there is fomthing of vanity which
lies at the bottom , if '\t be not the po-
fitive fort mention'd before , of defigning
to illuftrate my felf by others blemiflies ,
yet at lead the negative , that I am un-
willing to incur the contemt incident to
thofe, who fcrupleatfmallfins. Befides
I obferve perhaps , that 'tis the common
entertainment of the world , to defame
their
96 The Government of the Tongue.
their neighbors , and if I ftrike not in up-
on the Theme , I iliall have nothing to
render me acceptable company ; perhaps
I ihall be rcproched as morofe or dall , and
my filence fliall be conftrued to proceed
not from the abundance of my Charity ,
but the defeft of my Wit.
30. But fure they that can thus ar-
gue , do hereby give a more dcmonflra-
tive proof of that defeft. He whofe wit
is fo precarious, that it muft depend on-
ly upon the folly or vice of another,
had beft give over all pretence to it.
He that has nothing of his own growth
to fet before his guefts , had better
make no invitations , then break down
his neighbors inclofure , and feaft them
upon his plunder. Befides how piti-
ful an atteftation of wit is it, to be able
to make a difgraceful relation of ano-
ther? No fcolding woman but may
fet up fuch Trophies : and they that can
value a man upon fuch an account, may
prefer the Scarabes , who feed upon dung ,
and are remark'd by no other property,
before the Bee that fucks flowers and re-
turns hony.
31. But in the next place admit this
reftraint lliould certainly expofe one to
that
S E c T. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 97
that reproch ; methinks this fliould be
no news to thofe who kno\Y^ the con-
dition of Chriftianity is to take up the
Crofs : and lure it cannot weigh lighter
then in this inftanee, What am 1 the
worfe if a vain Talkative Perfon think
me too rclerv'd? Or if he, whofe frolic
levity is his difcafe , call me dull , becaufe
I vapor not out all my fpirits into froth?
Socrates when inform'd of fome deroga-
ting Speeches one had ufed of him be-
hind his back, made only this facetious
reply. Let him beat me too when I am
abfcnr. And he that gets not fuch an
indifference to all the idle cenfures of
men, will be difiurb'd in all his civil
tranfaiflion , as well as his Chriflian:
it being fcarce poffible to do any thing ,
but there will be defcants made on it.
And if a man will regard thofe winds,
he mud, as Solomon faics , never fcji' ^
Eccl. II. 4^ He mud fufpend even the
ncceflary anions of common life , if he
will not venture them to the being mif-
judged bv others.
32. B u T there is yet a hirthcr cojl-
fidcration in this matter : for he that
upon fuch a defpicable motive will vio-
late his duty iw one particular, lets Sa-
" N ' raft
98 The Government of the Tongue.
tan get a main point of him , and can
with no good Logic deny to do it in
others. Detraction is not the only fin
in falhion : Profanenefs, and Obfcenity ,
aiid all forts of Luxury are fo too , and
threaten no lefs reproch to thofe who
fcruplcatthem. Upon the famegrounds
therefore that he difcards his Charity to
his neighbor , he may alfo his Piety , his
Modefty, his Temperance , and almofl
all other virtues. And to fpeak the truth ,
there is not a more fertile womb of fin,
then this dread of ill mens reproch. O-
ther corruptions muft be gratifi'd with-
cod and induftry, but in this the Devil'
hath no farther trouble then to laugh
men out of their fouls. So prolific a vice
therefore had need be weeded out of
mens hearts : for if it be allowed the leaft
corner , if it be indulged too in this one
inftancc, 'twill quickly fpread it felf far-
ther.
33, Yet after all, this fear of re-
proch is a mere fallacy, flarted to dif-'
guife a more real caufe of fear : for the
greater danger of reproch do's indeed lie
on that other fide. Common ellimation
puts an ill Charafter upon pragmatic
medling people. For tho the inquifi-
tivenefs
StcT. VI. OfUncharitableTruth. 99
tivenefs and curiofity of the hearer , may
fomnmes render fuch a'jfcourfes grateful
enough to him , yet it leaves in him no
good impreffions of the fpeaker. This
is vyell obfcrv'd by tfie Son of Sirach ,
Eccluf. 19. 8, 9. Jrhetber ti be to frietid
or foe ^ talk not of oth^^r . mens lives , and
if thou canft '•jL'hbout offence , revele them
not , for he heard and ob fervid thee , and
when tme cometh he will hate thee. In
a word all confidcring Perfons will be c-
,vcr upon their guard in fuch company,
as forefecing that they will talk no Icfk
freely of them , then they do of others be-
fore them. Nor can the commonnefs of
the guilt obviate the cenfure , there be-
ing nothing more frequent then for
men to accufe their own faults in other
Perfons. Vice is like a dark Lantern ,
which turns its bright fide only to him
that bears it, but looks blak and dif-
mal in anothcrs hand: and in this par-
ticular none has fo much reafon to fear
<a Defamer, as thofe who are themfelvcs
fuch: for (befides the. common pruden-
tial motive ) their own confcioufnefs
gives them an inward alarm, and makes
them look for a retribution in the fame
•jkind. Thus upon the whole matter we
^v N X fee
joo The Government of the Tongue.
fee, there is no jealtemtation, even to
par vanity , to tomply with this uncha-
ritable culVm, wc being furc to lofe
more repute by itjihcn we can propofe to
ourfclves to gain. The beilig efteem'd
an ill man Wiil.nft be balanced by be-
ing thought plcfatot, ingenuous compa-
ny, wereone fureto befo. But'tisodds
that will not be acquired by it neither ,
for the moJEl alliduous talebearers and bit-
tereO: revilers are often half-witted peo-
ple : there being nothing more frequent-
ly obferved, then fuch mens aptnefs to
fpeakevilof things they underftand not,
Jude v. 10. : '
" 34. O Let not then thofe that liavere^
pudiated the nVore inviting fins, fliew
themfelycs philtr'dand bewitch'd by this,
but inflead offubmitting to the ill exam-
ple of others , fet a good one to them , and
endeavor to bring this unchriftian cufbom
out of falliion , I am fure if they do not ,
they will be moredepply chargeable then
others : for the more command they have
over their other corruption , the more do
they witnefs againft themfelves. Their
'remifsnefs and willing fubjedion to this-,
befides their example when ill , is more
ei^fnaring then other mens, and is apt
Sect. VI. OfVncharitableTruth. loi
10 infinuate eafy thoughts of the fin.
Men are apt to think themfelves fafe
while they follow one of noted piety,
and the autority of his Perfon often leads
them blindfold into his failings. Thus
when 'Peter dilfembled , St Taul tells us
that the other Jews and even Bm^nabas
alfi was catTied away with bis dijjimnla-
tlon. Galat. ^. 13. And I doubt nor
in this particular many are incouraged
by the liberty they fee even good men
take. So that fuch have a more accumu-
lative guilt , for they do not only com-
mit, but patronize the fault: the confi-
deration whereof has kept me I confefs ,
longer upon this head then is proportio-
nable to the brevity of the reft ? but I
think not longer then agrees to the im^
portance of the fubjcft.
3y. And now fmce we have confi-
der'd the malignity of thisrfm of Detra-
ction, and yet withall find that 'tis a fin,
which as the Apoftle fpeaks , doth fo eafi-
ly befet us , 'tis but a natural Corollary
that we inforcc our vigilance againft ix.
And where the importance and difficul-
ty aire^ both fo great, 'twillbc ahttlene-
cefTary to confider what arc the hkelieft
means , the moft appropriate Antidote
againft
lox The Governmenc of the Tongue.
againll this fo dangerous , and yet fo E-
pidemic a difcafe.
36. And here the common rule of
Phyfic is to be adverted to , viz. to ex-
amine the caufes , that the remedies may
be adapted to them. I fiiall therefore in
the firft place defire every manferioufly
to ftudy his own conftitution of mind,
and obferve what are his particular tem-
tations to this fin of Detradion , whe-
ther any of thofe I have before menti-
on d, as Pride, Envy, Levity, &c. or
any other which lies deeper, and is only
difcernible to his own infpecftion. Let
him , I fay , make the fcrutiny , and then
accordingly apply himfelf to correct the
fin -in its firfl principle. For as when
there is an eruption of Humor in any
part 'tis not cured merely by outward
applications, but by fuch alterative Me-
dicines as purify the blood ; fo this Le-
profy of the Tongue will {till fpread
farther , if it be not checked in its Spring
and fource , by the mortifying of thofe
corrupt inclinations , which feed and
heighten it.
3 7. T H I s is an inquifition I muft
leave to every mans own Confcience ,
which alone can tcltify by what im-
pulfes
Sect. VI. OfVncharitableTruth, 105
piilfes he ads. Yet as the Rabbins were
wont to fay , that m every Signal Judg-
ment which befel the Jews , there was
fome grain of the Golden-calf; fo I think
I may venture to fay , that in all Detra-
<R:ion , there is fome mixture of Pride :
and therefore I fuppofe, a Caution a-
gainft that , will be fo generally feafona-
blc , that it may well lead the Van of
all other advices in this matter. And
here 'tis very obfervable, that God who
has made af one blood all Nations of the
earth, A(ft. 17. has fo equally diftribu-
ted all the mod valuable privileges of
Human nature , as if he defign'd to pre-
clude all infulting of one man over an-
other. Neither has he only thus infmua-
ted it by his Providence, but has in-
forc'd it by his commands. In the Levi-
tical Law we find what a particular care
he takes to moderate the rigor of Ju-
dicial correcflion , upon this very ac-
count , left thy Brother he defp'tfed in
thine eies , Deut. 15-. 3. So unreafona-
ble did he think it , that the crime or
mifery of one , fliould be the exultation of
another. And S.'P/^^/ brands it as a great
guilt of the Corinthians , that they up-
on the occafion of the incefluous Perfon
were
I04 The Government of the Tongue.
were ptffed tip , 'H'hen they should have
mourned, i. Cor. 5-. i. When we fee a
dead Corps , we are not apt to infult o-
ver it , or brag of our own health and
vigor ; but it rather damps us , and makes
us refled , that it may ( we know not how
foon ) be our own condition* And cer-
tainly the fpcdaclcs of Spiritual mor-
tality fliould have the fame operation.
We have the fame principles of Corru-
ption with our lapfed Brethren, and
have nothing but Gods grace , to fecure
us from the fame e{?ed:s , and by thefe
infulting reflections forfeit that too ;
for he gives grace only to the humble , Jam .
4. 6. St. Paul's advice therefore is very
appofite to this cafe, Gal. 6. i. Bre-
thren if a man be overtaken in a fault j
refiore fuch a one in thefpirit of Meeknefs ,
tonjidering thy felf , leaH thou alfo betemt-
ed. In a word the faults of others ought
to excite our pity towards them , our
caution as to our felves, andourthank-
fulnefs to God , if he hath hitherto pre-
ferv'd us from the like , For 'who made
'thee to diifer from another? 1 . Cor. 4. 7. But
if we fpread our Sails and triumph o-
ver thcfe wrecks ^ we expofe our felves to
worfe. Other fms like Rocks may fplit us ,
yet
Sect, y I. OfUncbaritableTruth. 105:
yer the. lading may be prcfcrv'd: but
Pride like a Gulf fwallovvs us up; our
very vcrtues when fo levened , becom-
ing weights and plummets to fink us to
the deeper ruine. The coiinfcl therefore
of the Aooftlc, is very pertinent to this
matter. Rom. 11. 10. Be not high minded,
but fear.
38. But God knows we can infult
over others when we are not only un-
der a pofTibility , but are actually inv^lv'd
in the fame guilt: and then what are all
our accufations and bitter cenfiires of
others , but indiftments and condemna-
tory fentences againft our felves? And -
wc may juflly expert God ihould take
us at our word, and reply upon us as the
Prophet did upon T^av'id , Thou art tha
man. x Sam. ix. 7. For tho our officious
vehemence againft anothers crime, may
blind the eies of men , yet God is not
fo mocked, As therefore when a thief
or murderer is detected, it gives an a-
larm to the whole confederacy ; fowhen
we find our own guilts purfued in other
mens Perfons , 'tis not a time for us to
join in the profecution , but rather by
humble and penitent reflections on our
felves to provide for our own fafcty.
O When
I o6 Tl^e Government of the Tongue.
When therefore we find our fclves (up-
on any mifdemcanor of our brother)
ready to mount the tribunal , and pro-
- nounce our fentence , let us firft confi-
der how competent we are for the office,
calling to mind the decifion Chriftonce
made in the like cafe , He that is with-
out fin let him firft caft a ft one , Joh. 8. 7.
And if we did this , many perhaps of
our fierce!!: impeachers, would think
fit to retire and leave the delinquent (as
they thenifelves finally defire to be) to
the merciful indulgence of a Savior. In
ihort, would we but look into our own
Jiearts , we iliould find fo much work for
ou.r inquifitions and cenfure, that we
fiiould not be at leifure to ramble a-
broad for it. And therefore as Lycurgus
once faid to one , who importun'd him
to eftabliili a popular parity in the flate,
Do thou , faies he , begin it firft in thine
own family: fo I iliall advife thofe that
will be judging , to practice firft at home,
And if they will confine themfelves to
that, till there be nothing left to cor-
reft , I doubt not their neighbor will
be well enough fecur'd againft their De-
traftions.
39. Another prefervation againft
that
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 107
that fin is the frequent comtemplation of
the lafl and great judgment. This is in-
deed a Catholiconagainfl all: but we find
it particularly appli'd by St. ^ aid 10 this
of judging and dcfpifing our Brethren.
Whj doft thoujudg thy brother ? or why doft
thoufet at nought they brother^ JVe shall all
ft and before the Judgment Scat of Chr'ift.
Rom. 14. 10. That is the great day of
Revelation and retribution , and we are
not to anticipate it by our private in-
qucfts or fentences : we have bufinefs e-
nough to provide our own accounts a-
gainft that day. And as it were a fpight-
ful folly for Malefacftors that were go-
ing together to the bar , to fpend their
time '\w exaggerating each others crimes :
fo furely is it for us , who are all go^
ing toward the dreadful tribunal » to
be drawing up Charges againft one an-
other. And who knows but we may then
meet with the fate of 'Darnels accufers ,
fee him we cenfur'd acquit , and our felvcs
doomed. The penitence of the crimi-
nal may have numbred him among the
Saints, when our unretraded unchari-
tablenefs may fend us to unquenchable
Flames. 1 conclude this confideration
with the words of St. fames , There is one
O -L Lai;j
io8 The Government of the Tongue.
Lawgiver who is able tofave and to dejlroy,
who art thou that judge fl another ? Jam.
4. 12.
40. A third expedient may be , to try
to make a revulfion of the humor, to
draw it into another chanel. If we
muft needs be talking of other peoples
faults , let it not be to defame , but to
amend them , by converting our Detra-
(ftion and backbiting into Admonition
and fraternal correption. This is away
to extrad: medecine out of the viper, to
confecrate even thisfounhallow'dapart
of our temper, and to turn the ungrate-
ful mediing of a bufy-body, into the
mofl obliging office of a friend. And
indeed had we that zeal for vertue ,
which we pretend when w^e inveigh a-
gainil: vice , we lliould furely lay it out
this wiiy , for this only gives a polfibility
of reforming the offender. But alas we
order the matter fo, as ifwefear'd to
lofe the occafion of Clamor, and will
tell all the world but him that it mofl
concerns. Indeed 'tis a deplorable thing
to fee how univerfally this necelTary
Chnilian duty is neglefted ; and to that
neglect we may in a great degree impute
that flrange overflowing of DetraAion
a-
Sect. VI. OfVnchar it able Truth. 109
among us. We know the receiving a-
ny thing into our Charge , infenfibly be-
gets a love and tendernefs to it (anurfe
upon this account comes often to vie
kindnefs with the mother; ) and would
we but take one another thus into our
care , and by friendly vigilance thus
watch over each others fouls, 'tisfcarce
imaginable what an endearment it would
create: fuch certainly as would infalli-
bly fupplant all our unkind reportings ,
and fevere defcants upon our brethren ;
fiiice thofe can never take place, but when
there is at lead an indifference, if not an
enmity.
41. The next cure I fliall propofe
for DetracSiion, is to fubftra6t its nu-
rilhment, by fuppreffing all Curiofity
and inquifitivencfs concerning others.
Vv'cre all fupplies thus cut off, it w^ould
at lafi: be fubdued. The King of Ethi-
opia in a vie of Wit with the King of
Egypt , propof d it as a Problem to
him, to drink up the Sea, to which
he rcpli'd , by requiring him firlt toftop
the acccfs of Rivers to it : and he that
would drain this other Ocean, muft
take tlie fame courfe , dam up the ave-
nues of thofe Springs which feed it. He
that
no The Government of the Tongue.
that is alwaies upon the fccnt , hunting
x)ut fome difcovery of others , will be
very apt to invite his neighbors to the
quarry ; and therefore 'twill be neceffary
for him , to rcflrain himfelf from that
range: not like jealous States, to keep
Spies and penfioners abroad to bring him
intelligence , but rather difcourage all
fuch officious pick- thanks : for the fuller
he is of fuch informations , the more is j
his pain if he keep them in, and his guilt ■
if he publifh them. Could men beper-
fvvaded to afre(fb a wliolefome ignorance
in thefe matters, it would conduce both
to their eafe and innocence: for 'tis this
Itch of the ear which breaks out at the
Tongue : and were not Guriofity the
Purveior, Detradlionwouldfoonbe flarv-
ed into a tamenefs.
4x. But the mod infallible receit
of all , is the frequent recolleding , and
ferious applying of the grand rule , of
doing as we would be don to : for as
Detradion is the violation of that , {o
the obfervation of that mud certainly
fupplant Detraction. Let us therefore
when we find the humor fermenting
within us , and ready to break out in-
Declamations againll our brethren, Let
Sect. VI, Of ^Uncharitable Truth, 1 1 1
us , I fay , check it with this fhort que-
ftion , Would I my felf be thus us'd ? This
voice from within , will be like that from
heaven to St. Paul , which ftopt him in
the height of his carrier, K^.^-^. And
this voice every man may hear , that will
not flop his ears , nor gag his confcience ,
it being but the Echo of that native Ju-
llice and equity which is planted in our
hearts : and when we have our remedy
fo near us, and will not ufe it, God
may well expoflulate with us , as he did
with the Jews , Why will ye die , O houje
of IJrael? Ezek. 33. li.
43 . These are fome of thofe many
reccits which may be prefcrib'd againft
this fpreading difeafe. But indeed there is
not fo much need to multiply remedies,
as to perfwade men to apply them. We
are in love with our Malady , and as loth
to be cured of the Luxury of the Tongue ,
as S. Augufline was of his other Sen-
fuaUty , againft which he praied with a
Caveat, that he might not be too foon
heard. But 'tis ill dallying , where our
Souls are concern'd : for alas 'tis they tliat
are wounded by thofe darts , which we
throw at others. We take our aim per-
haps at our Neighbors , but indeed hit
our
nx . The Government of the Tongue.
our felves : herein verifying in thchigh-
efl: Senfe that Axiom of the Wife-man ,
He that d'tggeth a fit , shad fall into it,
and W that roleth aftone , n shallnturn
upon h'lm. Prov. 25. 27. If therefore we
have no tendernefs , no relenting to our
Brethren , ycr let us have fome to our
felves ; fo much compaflion , nay fo much
refpe(-l to our precious immorial Souls ,
as not fet, them at fo dcfpicable a price »
to put them in balance with the fatisfy-
ing o£ a. petulant peevifli vanity. Surely
the fhewing our felves ill-natur'd ( which
is all the gain Detraction amounts to) is
not fo enamouring a, defign , that we
iliould facrifice to it ourhigheflintereft,
Tjis too much to fpend our breath in fucli
a purfuit , O let not our fouls alfo exhale
In thq vapor ; but let us rather pour them
out in praiers for our brethren , then m
accufations of them : for tho both the one
4nd^ the other will return into our own
bofomsi, yet God knows, to far differ-
ing piirpofes , even as differing as thofe
wherewith wx utter them. The Charity
of the one like kindly exhalations wall
defcend in fliowers ofbleflings, but the
rigor and afperity of the other , in a fe-
yere doom upon our felves: for the A-?
Sect. VI. Of %)nchar it able Truth. 113
poftle will tell us , He shall have ptdg-
ment without mercy , that hath she'k'edno
mercy , James x. 13.
S E C T. V I I.
Of Scoffing a?id T>enfio)h
THERE is alfo another fault
of the Tongue injurious to our
neighbor, and that is Derifion and
Mockery ; and driving to render others
as ridiculous and contemtible as we caYi.
This in refpec^ of the fubje(ft matter dif-
fers from the other of Detraction, as
much as folly or deformity do's from
vice : yet fmce injuries as well as bene-
fits , are to be mefured by common efti-
mation , this may come in balance with
the other. There is fuch a general aver-
fation in human nature to contemt,
that there is fcarce any thing more ex-
afperating. I will not deny but the excefs
of the averfation may be level'd againft
Pride : yet fure fcorn and difdain never
fprung from humiUty ,. and therefore are
P very
"114 The Government of the Tongue.
very incompetent Corredors of the other ;
fo that it may be faid of that, as once
it was of Diogenes , that he trampled on
Tlato's Pride with greater of his own.
X. Nor is this injury enhanced on-
ly by the refentment of the fufferer,
but aifo by the way of inflicflingit. We
generally think thofe are the fevereft
marks of infamy , which are the moft
indelible. To be burnt in the hand or
pilloried, is a more lading reprochthen
to be fcourged or confined ; and it is
the fame in this cafe , for here common-
ly Wit is the Li(R:or, which is arm'd
with an edg'd tool , and leaves fears be-
hind it. The reproch of rage and fury
feem to be writ in Chalk or Lead , which
a difpaffionate hearer eafily wipes out,
but thofe of Wit are like the gravers bu-
rine Upon copper , or the corrodings of
Aqua-fortis, engrave and indent the
Charaders that they can never be de-
faced. The truth of this daily experi-
ence attefts. A dull contumely quickly
vanilhcs , no body thinking it worth re-
membring, but when 'tis fteel'd with
Wit , it pierces deep , leaves fuch impref-
fions in the fancy of the hearers , that
thereby it gets rooting in the memory , and
will
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing and 'Derijion. 115-
will fcarce be eradicated: nayfomtimes
it happens to furvivc both Ipeaker and
hearer, and conveys it felftopofterity ;
it being not unufual for the farcafms of
Wit to be tranfmitted in flory. And
as it thus gives an edg , fo alfo do's it
add wings to a reproch , makes it fly a-
broad in an inftant. Many a poor mans
infirmities had bin confined to the no-
tice of a few relations or neighbors , had
not foine remarkable ftrein of drollery
fcatter d and difperfed them. Thejeft re-
commends the Defamation , and is com-
monly fo incorporate with it, that they
cannot be related apart. And even
thofe who like it not in one refpecfl ,
yet are many times fo tranfported with
it in the other , that they chufe rather to
propagate the contumely, then ftifle the
conceit. Indeed Wit is fo much the
'Diana of this age , that he who goes a-
bout to fet any bounds to it , mud expejfl
an uproar , A(fts 19. x8. or at leaft to
be judged to have impofed an envious
inhibition on it , becaufe himfelf has not
flock enough to maintain the trade. But
how ever fliarp or unexpected the cen-
fure may feem to be, yet 'tis necefTary that
plain downright truth fhould fomtimes
P 1 be
, — . — r
\i6 The Government of the Tongue.
be fpoken, and I think that will bear me
out , if I fay 'tis pofTible men may be
as oppreffive by their parts, as theirpo-
wcr; and that God did no more defign
the meaner intellec^ualls of fome for
triumphs to the Pride and vanity of the
more acute , then he did the pofleflions
of the lefs powerful , as a prey to the ra-
pine and avarice of the mighty.
3. A N D this fuggefts a yet farther
aggravation of this fm , as it is a per-
verting of Gods defign , and abufe of the
talent he has committed to men in truft.
Ingenuity and quicknefs of parts , isfure
to be reckoned in the higheft ranks of
Bleffing , and an inflrument proper for the
moft excellent purpofcs : and therefore
we cannot fuppofe the Divine wifdom
fo much fhort of Human , as not in
his intention to affign it to ufes
worthy of it. Thofe muft relate either
to God , our felves , or our neighbors.
In refpecl: of God, it renders us more
capable of contemplating his Perfecti-
on^ v-'difcerning the Equity and excel-
le'iite of his Laws , and our obligations
to obedience. In regard of our felves
ft; 'makes us iapprehcnd our own intereft
in that obedience ; makes us tra^lable and
-I per-
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andT>ertfion. 1 17
■ ^, — ^ — ■ ii —
perfvvafible, contrary to that Brutiih ftub-
bornefs of the Horfe and Mule , which
the Pfalmift reproches , Pfal. 3x.9. Be-
fides it accommodates us in all the con-
cerns of Human life , forms it felf into
all thofe ufeful contrivances , which may
make our being here more comfortable :
efpecially it renders a man company to
himfelf , and in the grcatefl dearth of
Society, entertains him with his own
thoughts. Laflly , as to our neighbors ,
it renders us ufeful and affiftant. All
thofe difcoveries and experiments , thofe
Arts and Sciences , which are now the
common trefure of the world, took'
their firit rife from the ingenuity of par-
ticular perfons : and in all Perfonal
exigencies wherein any of us are at any
time involved, we need not be told the
ufefulnefs of a wife advifer. Now all
thcfe are emploiments commenfurable to
the faculty from whence they ilow , and
that anfwer its excellence and value ; and
he that fo bcfiows his talent , gives a good
account of his truft. But I would fain
know under which of thefe Heads Deri-
fion of our Neighbor comes m-. cer-
tainly not under that of being a/Tiflant
to him. It would be a forry relief to a
poor
I
ii8 The Government of the Tongue.
o
poor indigent wretch, to lavilh out wit
upon him, in upbraiding of his mifery.
And is not this a parallel cafe? Is it not
the fame Barbarifm , to mock, and re-
proch a man that wants the gifts of
Nature , as him that wants thofe of For-
tmie ? Nay perhaps it may be more , for
a Beggar may have inpoverilht himfelf
by his own fault, but in Natural de-
fe(R:s there is nothing to be charged , un-
lefs we will fly higher , and arraign that
Providence that hath fo difpenfed. In
a word as the Superfluities of the Rich
are by God afTign'd as the flore-houfe
of the poor , fo the Abihties of the Wife
are of the ignorant : for 'tis a great mis-
take, to think our felves Stewards in
fome of Gods gifts , and proprietaries in
others. They are all equally to be emploi-
ed , according to the defignation of the
Donor , and there is nothing more uni-
verfally defign'd by him, then that man-
kind fliould be equally helpful to one
another. Thofe therefore whom God
hath bleft with higher degrees of fa-
gacity and quicknefs, ought not to look
down on others as the objefts of their
contemt or fcorn , but rather of theij;
care and pity, endeavoring to refcuc
1 them
Sect;VII. Of Scoffing andT>€rifion, 119
them from thofe mifchiefs, to which
their weaknefs may expofe them, re-
membring ftiil, that God might have
changed the Scene , and made themfelves
what they fee others. It is part oi Jobs
juftification of his integrity , that he''was
eies to the Blind , and feet to the Lame ^
Job. 'Lc^.'Li^.f i.e. ) he accommodated his
afTiflances to all the wants and exigencies
of others : and fure 'tis no lefs the parr
of a good man to do it '\\\ the Mental
then in the Corporeal defeats.
4. But alas many of us would ra-
ther put a Humbling block in the way
of the Blind , pull away the Crutch from
the Lame, that we may fportourfelves
to fee them tumble : fiich a fcnfuality
we have in obfcrving and improving the
imperfections of others , that it is become '
the grand excellence of the Age to be
Dextrous at it, and Vv'it ferves fome
men for httlc clfc. We are got indeed
into a merrv world, Laughing is our
main bufinefs ; as if bccaufe it has bin
made part of the Definition of man,
that he is Rifible, his man-hood confid-
ed in nothing elfe. But alas if that be
all the ufe men have of their underfland-
ings, they were given them to little pur-
pofc
ixo The Government of the Tongue.
pofe , fince mere Idiots can laugh with as •!
much plcfurc and more innocence then
they ; and it is a great inftance how ex-
tremes may be brought to meet , that the
excefs of Wit in the one , and of Fol-
ly in the other , fervc to produce the
fame cfFed.
5'. Yet fo voracious is this humor
now grown , that it draws in every thing
to feed it. There is not game enough
from the reall folly of the world , and
therefore that which is the moft di-
ftant from it muft be ftampt with it
mark. 'Tis a known fl:ory of the Frie
who on a fading day bid his Capo
be Carp, and then very Canonicall
ate it ; and by fuch a tranfubftantiating
power our Wits bid all ferioufnefs and
confideration be formality and foppe-
ry , and then under that name endeavor
to hunt it out of the world. I fear mo-
ral honefty fares not better with fome
of them then moral prudence. The old
Philofophical vertues of Juftice , Tempe-
rance , and Chaftity are now hift off the
flage , as fit only for the Antiquated fet
of Adors , and he that appears in that
equipage , is by many thought more ri-
diculous , then he that walks the ftreet in
his
S E c T. V II. Of" Scoffing and 'Derijion. 1 1 1
his Anceftors trunk hofe. Nay indeed
vice it felf is fcarce fecure if it have not
the grand accompHihmcnt of impudence :
a puny blufiiing finner is to be laught
out of his Modefly , tho not out of his
fin ; and to be proof againft their fcorns
he muft firft be fo againil all the regrets
of his own mind.
6. And if mere Ethnic virtue, or
fliamefaced vice have this treatment,
Chriftian Piety muft expeft worfe : and fo
indeed it finds , its profeffors being be-
ypnd all others expofed to their jcorn
and contemt. Nor is it ftrange it lliould
be fo , fuch men being 7nade , as it is
Wifd. 1. 14. to reprove their waies ^
they think in their own defe;ice they
are to deride theirs. This is it indeed
which gives a fecrct fting and venem to
their reproches : other men they abufe
as an cxercife of their Wit, butthefein
defence of the party. So Julian after
his Apoftacy , thought it a more effedlual
I way to perfecute the Chriftians by taunts
and ironies , then by racks and tortures ,
as thinking it more poffible to Ihamc,
then fright them out of their religion.
And the ftratagem feems to havQ bin
reaflumed by many in this age , and I
Q. fear
1 22 The Government of the Tongue.
fear with too great fuccefs : for I doubt
not there are divers who have herded
thcmfelves ainongft thefe profane Scof-
fers , not that they arc convinced by their
reafons , but terrified by their contume-
lies; and as fome Indians are faid to
worfliip the Devil, that he may not
hurt them ; fo thefe chufe to be adive ,
that they may not be paffive in the
contemts flung upon religion : fuch men
forget the dreadful denunciation of Chrift
againfl thofe thatlliall beajhamedofh'im
and his words. Mat. 8. 38.
7. A s for thofe who , upon a jufler
cflimate, find the advantages of piety
worthy to be chofen , and take it with S
all its acceflary ignominies , they have
the encouragement of very good com-
pany in their fufFerings. The Pfalmifl:
long ago had his fliare , when not only
Thofe that fate in the gate fpake agairift
him , but the drunkards made fongs upon
htm, Pfalm. 69. ii. 'Twas alfo the Pro-
phet Jeremies complaint , / am in 'De-
rifion dayly , every one mockethme , Jer.
^o. 7. Nay our blefTed Lordhimfelf was
derided in his life by the Pharifees,
Luke 16. 14. mocked and reviled at his
death by the Priefts , the Elders , the
Sol-
I
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andT>crifwn. 123
■ i ' •
Soldiers ; nay by cafual palTengers , Mat.
27. 39. And ihall the fervant think
himfelf greater then his Lord ? Shall a
Chriftian expeft an immunity from what
his Savior has born before him ? ( He
that do's fo , is too delicate a member for
a crucified head. ) No fure , let us rather
animate our felves , as the Apoftle ex-
horts , by coufidering him who as well de-
ffifed the shame ^ as endured the crofs for
us ^ Heb. II. 3. and who has not only
given an example , but propofed a re-
ward , a Beatitude to thofe who are re-
*viled for right eoufnefs fake , Mat. 3. 11.
And when this is foberly ponder'd , 'twill
fure make it cafy for us to refolve with
holy T^av'id in a like cafe , Iisj'ill be yet
more vile , z Sam. 6. ii.
8. But to return from this digredi-
on , to thofe who thus unhappily employ
their parts, let me propofe to them,
that they would borrow every dayfomc
few minutes from their mirth , and fe-
riouHy confidcr , whether this be ( I need
not fay a Chriftian, but) a manly ex-
ercife of their faculties. Alas when they
have rallied out the day from one com-
pany to another, they may fura up their
account at hight in the wife mans fi-
Q^ z mile
114 The Government of the Tongue.
— — ^ ■^- ■ - ■ y^ . ■ ,— ■ ... —■■■ . ^
mile , their Laughter has bin but like the
crackling of Thorns under a pot ^ Eccluf.
6. 7. made a little brisk noife for the
prefent , and with the fparklcs perhaps
annoied their Neighbors , but what real
good has it brought to themfelves ? All
that they can fancy is but the repute of
Wit. But fure that might be attainable
fome other way. We find the world
affecfted to new things , and this of De-
rifion and abufe to others is fo beaten a
road , that perhaps the very variety of
a new way would render it acceptable.
They are the lighter fubftances that flill
fwim away with the ftream , the greater
and more folid bodies do fometimes
flop the current : and fure 'twere a no-
ble effay of a mans parts to flem this
tide, and by a more ufeful application
of their own faculties , convince others
that theirs might be better emploied. 'Tis
faid of Anacharfis , that at a feaft he
could not be got to fmile at the afiecl:ed
railleries of common Jeiters , but when
an ape was brought in he freely laught ,
faying , an ape was ridiculous by nature,
but men by art and fludy. And truly 11
'tis a great contcmt of human nature to
think their intelledls were given them
for
Shcr.Wl. Of Scoffing attd'DertJion. T^^
for no better end then to raife that
laughter, which a brute can do as well or
better.
9. I would not be thought to recom-
mend fuch a Stoical fournefs , as Ihall
admit of nothing of the cheerful plea-
fant part of Converfation. God has
not fure bin more rigid to our Minds
then to our Bodies : and as he has not fo
devoted the one to toil , but that he al-
lows us fome time to cxercife them ia
recreation as well as labors , fo doubtlefs
he indulges the fame relaxation to out
Minds : which are not alwaies to be fcrued
up to the height, but allowed to defcend
to thofe eafmefles of Converfe , which
entertain the lower Faculties of the Sou!.
Nor do I think thofe arc ill emploied in
thofe little skirmiHies of Wit, which
pafs familiarly between intimates and ac-
quaintances , which bcfidcs the prefent
divertifenient , ferve to whet and quicken
the fancy. Yet I conceive this liberty-
is to be bounded with fome Cautions :
as firft in thcfe entercounters, the Charge
fliould be Powder not Bullets;there iliouTd
nothing be faid that fliould leave any
ungrateful impreffions , or give any um-
brage of a fpightful intent. The world
wants
iz6 The Government of the Tongue.
_j — . _
wants not experiments of the mifchiefs
have happened by too fevere Railleries :
in fuch Fencing jeft has proved earned,
and Florets have oft turn'd to Swords, and
not only the Friendlhip,but the Men have
fallen a Sacrifice to a Jeft.
19. Secondly this is to have the
fame reftri^tion with all other recreati-
ons, thatitbemadeadivertifement, not
a trade. 'Tis an infmuating thing , and is
apt to encrochtoo much upon our time ,
and God knows we have a great deal of
bufmefs of this world , and much more
for the next, which will not be don with
laughing , and therefore 'tis not for us,
to play away too much of that time ,
which is exacted by more ferious con-
cerns. 'Tis fure we fhall die in Earneft,
and it will not become us to live alto-
gether in Jeft. But befides this ftealth of
our time , 'tis apt to fteal away mens
hearts too , make them fo dote upon this
kind of entertainment,that it averts them
from any thing more ferious. 1 believe I
may appeal to fome who have made this
their bufinefs , whether it go not againft
the hair with them to fet to any thing
elfe: and having efpoufed this as their
one [excellence , they are willing to de-
cry
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing and'DeriJion. ix7
cry all others , that they may the more
value themfelves upon this. By this
means it is , that the gift of Raillery has
in this Age, like the lean kine, devour-
ed all the more folid worthy qualificati-
ons ; and is counted the moll: reputable
accomplifhment. A ftrange inverted efti-
mate ; thus to prefer the little ebullitions
of Wit , before folid reafon and judg-
ment. If they would accommodate their
Diet at the fame rate, they lliall cat
the Husk , rather then the Kernel , and
drink nothing butfroth and bubbles. But
after all , Wifdom is commonly at long
running juftified even of her Defpifers;
thefc great Idolaters of Wit often dafh-
ing themfelves upon fuch Rocks , as make
them too late wifli, their Sailes had bin
Icfs, and their Ballad more. For the
preventing therefore of more fuch wracks,
I wifii the prefent caution may be more
adverted to , not to beftow an unpropor-
tionable part of our time or value on
this flight exercife of mans flighted Fa-
culty.
II. A third Caution in this matter, is
to confine our felves to prefent Com-
pany , not to make abfent Perfons the
Subjedl of our mirth. Thofe freedoms wc
ufe
1x8 The Government of the Tongue.
ufe to a mans face as they are common-
ly more moderate , fb they are more e-
quitable , becaiife we expofe our felves
to the hke from him ; but the back blowes
are difingenuous, and give fufpicionwe
intend not a fair trial of Wit , but a co-
wardly murder of a mans fame. 'Twas
the precept of the Philofopher, deride
not the abfent , and I think it may well
be fo of the Politician: there being no-
thing more imprudent as to our civil con-
cerns then the contrary liberty. For thofe
things never die in the company they
arc firft vented in ( nay perhaps the hearer
is not willing his wit fliould fo foon ex-
pire; ) and when they once take air, they
quickly come to the notice of the de-
rided Perfon , and then nothing in the
world is more difobiiging. 'Twas a fober
precept given once , not fo much as to
laugh in compliance with him that de-
rides another , for you will be hated by
him he derides. And if an accefTary be
hated , fure much more the principal : and
\ think I may fay , there are many can
fooner forgive a folemn deep contrivance
againfl them , then one of their jocular
rcproches : for he that defigns feems to
acknowledg them confiderable , but he
that
Sect. VII. Of Scoffingand'Derifion. 119
that mocks them , feems to think them
too low.for any thing butcontemt: and
we leam ,^rom Ariflotle , that the me-
fure of anger is entirely taken thence;
men being fo far provoked , as they ima-
gine they were (lighted or affronted.
In mere fecular wifdom it will there-
fore become men to coiifider , whether
this trade be like to turn to account, or
whether it be worth the while , at once
to make a jeft and an enemy.
12. And if it be imprudent to make
man our enemy , 'tis much more to make
God fo , by levelling our blowes at any
thing facred: but of that I have already
had occafion to fpeak, and iliall not re-
pete ; only give me leave to fay , that
befides the profaner fort of j efts , which
more immediately reflect on him , he is
concern'd in all the unjufl reproches of
our brethren , our love to them being
confirm'd by the fame divine San(ftion
with our reverence to him: and fure no-
thing is more inconfillent with that love ,
then the expofmg them to that contemt
we are our felves fo impatient of. In a
word what repute foever this pra^flice now
has of Wit , it is very far from wifdom
to provoke God that we may alfodifob-
\
1
130 The Government of the Tongue.
■ — J
lige man : and if we will take the Scrip- j
ture eflimate, we fhall find a Scorneris j
no fuch honorable Epithet as 'We feem
to account it. Solomon do's almoft con-
ftantly fet it in oppofition to a Wife
man: thus it is, Prov. 9. 8. and again
Chap. 13. 1, and many other places ; and |
on the other fide , clofely links it with
the Fool : and that not only in title , but
in puniiliment too, 'judgments are pre-
pared for fiorners , and Hripes for the back
of fools , Prov. 1 9. X9. So that if our Wits
think not Solomon too dull for their Ca-
bal , we fee what a turn he will give to
their prefent verdict.
13. And if thefe reproches which
aim only at oftenration of Wit , be fo un-
juftifiable , what lliall we fay to thofe , ,
that are drawn with blacker lines, that^
are founded in Malice or Envy, or'
£bme undermining defign? Every man
that is to be fupplanted cannot alvvaies
be attaqued with a down-right battery :
perhaps his integrity may be fuch, that,
as *twas faid of Daniel Chap. 6. 4. They^i
can find no occafion agalnft him : and '
when they cannot fhake the main Fort,
they muft try if they can pofTefs them-
felves of the out-works , raife fome preju-
dice
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andlJerifion. 131
clice againft his difcrerion, his humor,
his carriage , and his moft extrinfic ad-
herents , and if by reprefenting him ri-
diculous in any of thefe they can but a-
bate mens reverence to him , their con-
fidence of him will not long hold out ;
bare honefty without fome other adorn-
ment , being lookt on as a leaf-lefs tree ,
no body will trufl himfelf to its ihelter.
Thus the enemies oi Socrates , when they
could no other waiesfupprefs his reputa-
tion , hired Artftofhanes a Comic Poet
to perfonate him on the flage , and by the
innnuations of thofe interludes, infenfibly
conveicd firft a contemt,and then a hatred
of him into the hearts of the people. But
I need not bring inftances of former times
in this matter,thefe being fufficientlyveril
in that myftery.
w 14. It is not llrangethatmenof fuch
defigns, iliould fummon all their Wit
to the fervicc, make their Railleries as
picquant as they can, that they may
wound the deeper: but methinks 'tis but
a mean office they aflign their Wit , to
be ( I will not fay the Pander , that be-
ing in this age fcarce a title of reproch ,
but) the executioner or hangman to their
malice. Chrifl bids us be ij^ife as Ser-
13 i The Government of the Tongue.
fents, yet adds withall harmlefs as Tiaves^
Mat. lo. i8. but here the Serpent has quite
eat up the Dove , and puts a Vultur in
the place , a creature of fuch fagacity and
diligence in purfuit of the prey , that 'tis
hard for any art or innocence to efcape
its talons.
15-. There is yet another fort of'
Contumelious Perfons , who indeed are
not chargeable with that circumftance , of
ill employing their Wit , for they ufe none
in it. Thefe are people whofe fole ta-
lent is Pride and Scorn; who perhaps
have attained the Sciences of drefling
themfelves finely and eating well , and
upon the llrength of thofe excellences,
look faflidioully , and fpeak difdainfully
on any who want them ; concluding
if a man fall Ihort of their Garniture at
the Knees and Elbowes, he is much in-
ferior to them in the furniture of his
Head. Such people think crying, O ri-
diculous I is an ample Confutation of a-
iiy thing can be faid ; and fo they can
but defpife enough, are contented not
to be able to fay why they do fo.
Thefe arc , I confefs , the mofl innocent
kind of Deriders in refpedl of others,
what they, fay having not edg enough
< . - . to
S EC T. VII. Of Scoffing and "Derifion. 133
to caufe any fmarr. The greatelt hurt
they do is to themfelves , who tho they
much need , yet are generally little ca-
pable of a refcue , and therefore I fliall
not clog the prefent difcourfe with any
advife to them : I fliall chufe rather to
conclude with enforcing my Suit to
the former , that they would foberly and
fadly weigh the account they mull: one
Day give of the Emploiment of their
Parts , and the more they have hitherto
embeazled them , the more to endeavor
to expiate that unthriftinefs , by a more
careful Managery for the future; thatfo
inftead of that vain, emty, vanifliing
Mirth they have courted here , they may
find a real, full, and eternal Satisfaftion
in the Joy of their Lord.
Sect.
134 The Government of the Tongue.
Sect. VIII.
Of Flattery,
1. T^'H E lad of Verbal injuries to
JL our Neighbor which I Ihall men-
tion , is Flattery. This is indeed the fa-
tallefl wound of the Tongue , carries lead
Smart butinfinitlymorcof Danger, and
is as much fuperior to the former , as a
Gangrene is to a Gall or Scratch ; this
may be fore and vexing, but that flu-
pifying and deadly. Flattery is fuch a
Myflery , fuch a Riddle of iniquity , that
its very foftneffes are its cruelleft ri-
gor, its Balm corrodes , and (to com-
prize all in the Pfalmifts excellent De-
fer ip tip n ) its '■jjords are finoother then
oil, and yet be they very /words. Pfalm.
5-6, x\.
z. But befides the mifchiefs of it to
the Patient , 'tis the moil diihonoring ,
the moft vilifying thing to the Agent.
I Ihall not need to empannel a Ju-
ry either of Morahfls or Divines , eve-
ry
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery, ^ 13^
ry mans own bread fufficientlyinflruft-
ing him in the unworthinefs of it. 'Tis
indeed a Colle^live accumulative Bafe-
nefs , it being in its Elements a compound
and a complex of the mod fordid , hateful
qualities incident to Mankind. I fliall
inftance in three, ^7^. Lying, Servility,
and Trechery, which being deteflably
deform'd fingle, mufl in Conjunftion
make up a loathfom Monftrous guilt.
Now tho Flattery has two Branches, yet
thefe lie fo at the Root as equall to in-
fluence both : for whether you take it
as it is the giving of praife where it is not
due , or the profeffing of kindnefs which
is not real , thefe Properties are flill its
Conflitutivc parrs.
3. And firfl wc may take Lying to
be the very corner Stone of the Fa-
bric ; for take it away , and the Whole
falls to the ground. A Parafite would
make but a lean trade of it, that
fliould confine himfelf to truth. For
tho 'tis poffible fo to order the manner
and circumftances , as to flatter even in
the reprefenting a mans real vertues to
him, yet commonly if they do not fal-
ftfy as to the kind, they are forc'd to do
it as to the degree. Befides as there are
buc
136 The Government of the Tongue.
but few fuch fubjed:s of Flattery , fo nei-
ther are men of that Worth fo receptive
of it. Such fort of addreffes are lefs dan-
gerous to thofe who have the perfpicaci-
ty to fee thro them : fo that thefe Mer-
chants are under a necefTity of deahng
with the more ignorant Chapmen, and
with them their counterfeit wares will go
off bed. It is indeed flrange to confi-
der , with what grofs impudent falshoods
men of this trade will court their Pa-
trons. How many in former ages have
not only amafs'd together all fublunary
excellences , but have even ranfacked
heaven to fupply their Flattery , Deified
their Princes, and perfwaded them they
were Gods, who at lafl found they
were to die like men ? And tho this flrein
be now out-dated , yet perhaps 'tis not
that the vice is grown more modefl , but
that Atheifm has rob'd it of that To-
pic. Thofe that believe no God , would
rather feem to annihilate then magnify the
perfon to whom they fliould apply the
title. But I do not find that the practice
has any other bounds. A great mans
vices fhall flill be called vertues ; his de-
formities, beauties; and his moil abfurd
follies , the height of ingenuity. Such a
fubtii
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 1 3 7
fubtil Alchymift is his Parafitc , that he
turns all he touches into gold, imagina-
ry indeed as to the deluded Perfon , but
oft-times real to himfelf. Nor is Lying
lefs naturall to the other part of Flatte-
ry, the Profedion of fervice and kind-
nefs. This needs no evidencing, and to
attemt it would be a felf- Confutation:
for if thofe ProfefTions be true, they
are not Flattery , therefore if they be
Flattery , they muft needs be Lies. It
will be alnioft as needlefs to expatiate on
the Bafenefs and meanefs of that fin ; for
tho there is no Subject that affords more
matter for Declamation , yet Lying is a
thing that is afliamed of it felf, and there-
fore may well be remitted to its own con-
viftions. 'Tis Ariftotles obfervation , that
all Elements but the Earth , had fome
Philofopher or other, that gave it his
vote to be the firfl: productive Principle
of all things : and I think we may now
fay , that all Crimes have had their A-
bettors and fautors, fome body that
would (land up in their defence ; only
Lying is fo much the dregs and refufe of
wickednefs , that none has yet had Chy-
miflry enough to fublimate it , to bring
it into fuch a reputation , that any man
S will
138 The Government of the Tongue.
will think fit to own it : the greater won-
. der that what is under fo univerfal are-
proch, fhould be fo commonly admitted
in pradlice. But by this we may make
an eftimate , what the whole body of
Flattery is , when in one limb of it we
find fo much corruption.
4. A Second is Servility and Abjcdlnefs
of humor : and of this there needs no
other proof then has bin already given;
this charge being implicitly involv'd in
the former of Lying , the condefcending
to that, being a markof adifingenuous
fpirit. And accordingly the nobler Hea-
thens lookt on it as the vice of Slaves and
vafTals , below the liberty of a free man ,
as well as an honefl. But tho I need no
other evidence to make good the accufa-
tion, yet every Sycophant furnifhes me
with many fupernum.erary proofs. Look
upon fuch a one, and you ihall fee his
eiesimmoveably fixt on his Patrons face,
watching each look , each glance , and
in every change of his countenance ( like
a Star-gazer)^ reading his own deftiny,
his Ears chain'd (like gally-flaves at the
oar) to his dictate, fucking in the mod
infipid difcourfes with as much greedi-
nefs , as if they were the Apothegms of
the
Sect. Vlll. Of Flattery. 139
the feven fages , liis Tongue tuned only
to Panegyrics and acclamations, his feet
in winged motion upon every nod or
other fignification of his plefure : in a
word , his whole body ( as if had no
other animal fpirits then what it derived
from him ) varies its poflures , its exerci-
fes , as he finds ae,reeable to the humor he
is to ferve. And can humanity contrive
to debafe it felf more ? Yes it can , and
do's to often , by enflaving its Diviner
part to , taking up not only opinions ,
but even crimes alfo in compliance , play-
ing the incarnate Devil, and helping
to a(R: thofe villanies which Satan can
only fuggefl : and if this be not a flate of
abjeft flavery , fare there is none in the!
world. Plutarch tells us , that ^h'tloxenm
for defpifmg fome dull Poetry of T)iO'
nyjius , was by him condemned todigirt
the quarries : from whence being by the
Inediation of friends remanded , at his
return Vionyfius produced fome other of
his verfes , which as foon as Th'tloxe-i
Hus had read , he made no reply , but
calling to the waiters , faid , Let them
carry me again to the quarries. And if
a heathen Poet could prefer a corporeal
flavery before a mental , what name of
1 40 The Government of the Tongue.
reproch is low enough for thofe , who
can fubmit to both , in purfuit of thofe
poor fordid advantages they projedl by
their Flatteries. Nor is this bafenefs
more obfervable in thefe meanfawnings
and obfervanccs , then it is in the pro-
teftations of kindnefs and Friendfliip.
Love is the greateft gift any man has
to bellow , and Friendihip the facredeft
of all moral bonds: and to proftitutc
thefe to little pitiful defigns , is fure one
of the bafefl cheats we can put upon
our common nature , in thus debafing
her pureft and moft current coin, which
by thefe frequent adulterations is become
fo fufpe^ted, that fcarce anymankriows
what he receives. But Chriflian Chari-
ty is yet worfe ufed in the cafe: for
that obliging to all fmcerity, is here-
by induced to give gold for drofs , ex-
hibite that Love indeed^ and in truth ^
which is returned only m word and in
Tongue ^ i. Joh. 3. 18. And fo it do's in
thofe who obferve its rules : but in thofe
who own , yet obferve them not , 'tis
yet a greater fufferer , by laboring under
the fcandal of all their diffimulations.
It was once the Character given Cliri-
ftians , even by their Enemies , Behold
how
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 141
how they love one another: but God
knows we may now be pointed out by
a very differing mark , Behold how they
deceive and delude one another. ^ And
fure this violation we herein offer to our
rehgion, do's not allay but aggravate
the bafenefs of this practice : lor if in
the other we fell our felves , in this we
fell our God too , facrifice our intereft
\\\ him to get a furreptitious title to the
favor of a man. And this I conceive
J do's m the fecond place not much com-
mend the art of Flattery , which is built
up of fo vile materials.
5-. And to compleat this infamous
compofition, in the third place Treche-
ry comes in; a crime of fo odious a
kind, that to name it is to implead it:
yet how intrinfic a part this is of Flat-
tery , will need no great skill to evidence ,
daily experience fufficiently doing it. 'Tis
a common obfcrvation of Flatterers , that
they are like the HeUotrope , open only
towards the fun, but lliut and contraA
themfelves at night, and in cloudy wea-
ther. Let the object of their adoration
be but cclipfed , they can fee none of
thofe excellences which before dazled
their eies : and however inconftant they
may
142- The Government of the Tongue.
may feem in it to others , they are indeed
very conflant to themfelves , true to their
iixt principle , of courting the greatnefs
not the man ; in purfuit whereof their old
Idol is often made a facrifice to their
new : all malicious difcovery is made of.
their falling friend , to buy an intereft:
in the rifingone. Of this there are fuch
crouds of examples in Story, that it^
would be impertinent to fuigle out any ,
efpecially in an age that is fitter to fur^
aiilh prefidents for the future , then to
borrow of the pafl times. But fuppo-
fmg the Parafite not adually guilty ofi
this bafe revolt ( which yet he feldom
fails to be upon occafion ) yet is he no lefa
Trecherous even in the height of his
BlandiHiments ; and while he moft courts!
a man , he do's the moft ruinoufly under-
mine him. For firft he abufes him in his
underftanding , precludes him from that;
which wife men have judged the moft
cffential part of Learning , the knowledgj
of himfelf, from which 'tis the main bu-j
finefs of the Flatterer to divert him. Andl
to this abufe there is another inevitabJyi
confequent : for this ignorance of his:
faults or follies, necefTarily condemns hint
to the continuing in them, it being im^
pofTi-
f!l
k
Sect. VIII. OfFlattery^ 143
pofTible for him to think of correding
cither the one or the other , w ho is made
believe he has neither. This is hke the tre-
chery of a bribed officer in a Garrifon ,
who will not let the weak parts be for-
tified,and laics the man as open to affaults
as that doth the Town. Yet this is not
all , he do's not only provide for the conti-
nuance , but the improving of his crimes
and errors , which alas are too prolific
of themfelves , but being cultivated and
manured with perpetual Toothings and
encouragements,growimmefLirably luxu-
riant. And accordingly we fee that men
ufed only to applaufes , arc fo fwell'd with
them , that their infolences are intolera-
ble. And this they are fomtimes taught
to their cofl , when they happen among
free men , who will not fubmit to all
they fay, nor commend all they do.
And finding thefe uneafy contradicti-
ons when they come abroad, they arc
willing to retire to their mod complai-
fant company: and fo this Sycophant
Devil having once got them within his
circle, may enchant them as he pleafes ,
lead them from one wickednefs to an-
other. And as Caligula and other vo-
luptuous Emperours , by being adored
as
144 The Government of theJTongue.
/^
as Gods , funk in their fenfuality below
the Nature of man , fo thefe celebrated
Perfons are by that falfe veneration a-
nimated to allthofereprochfulpradices,
which may expofe them to a real contemt :
their follies , as well as their vices ftill get
head , till they anfwer the defcription the
Wife man gives of the old Giants , Who
fell away in tbeflrength of their foolishnefs .
Ecci. 1 6. 7.
6. And fure he that betraies a man
to all thefe mifchiefs,may well be thought
perfidious. But that wich infinitly am-
plifies and enhances the Trechery is ,
that all this is afted under the notion
and dilguife of a friend ; a relation fo ve-
nerable , that methinks 'tis the nearcfl fe-
cular tranfcript of the treafon , which is
ftoried of thofe who have adminiftred
Poifon in the Eucharift. The name of a
friend is fuch an endearment, as nothing
human can equal. All other natural or
civil ties take their greateft force from
this. What fignifies an unfriendly Parent ,
or Brother , or Wife ? *Tis friendfhip only
that is the cement which really and effe-
ctively combines mankind : and there-
fore we may obferve , that God reckon-
ing up other relations , illuflratcs them
by
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 14^
by feveral notes of endearment, but
when he comes to that of friendfhip , 'tis
the friend who is as thine own foul ^ Deut.
13.6. nothing below the higheft inflance
was thought expreffive enough of that
union. What a Legion of Fiends then
poflefleth men that can break thefe chains
Mat. 5*. 4. nay that can hammer and
forge thofe very chains into Daggers and
Stillettoes , and make their friendfhip an
engine of ruine ? This is certainly the
blackeft color wherein we can view a Pa-
rafite, his falfe light makes the lliadow the
more difmal. As the Ape has a peculiar
deformity above other brutes by that
aukward and ungraceful rcfemblance he
has to a man , to fure a Flatterer is in-
finitely the more hateful for being the
ugly counterfeit of a Friend, And as
this Trechery lies at the bottom of the
Panegyrics/oalfodo'sitofallthecareffes
and exuberant kindnefs of a Flatterer,
which if they aimed not at any parti-
cular end of circumvention , muflyerin
the general be trechcrous by being falfe.
A man looks on the love of his friend as
one of the richefl pofTefTions ( upon which
account the Philofopher thought friends
were to be Inventoried as well as goods.)
T What
146 The Government of the Tongue.
What a defeat and difcomfiture is it to a
man when he comes to ufe this wealth,
to find it all falfe metali , fuch as will
not anfwer any of thofe purpbfes for
which he depended on it. There cannot i
fare be a greater Trechery , then firftto I
raife a confidence and then deceive it. But 1
befides this fundamental falfenefs , there
are alfo many incidental Trecheries ,
which fall in upon occafion of particular
defigns. A pretence of kindnefs is the
univerfalftale to all bafe projects : by this
men are rob'd of their fortufies , and wo-
men of their honor: in a word all the
vvolfilli defigns walk under this flieeps
clothing ; and as the world goes , men
have more need to beware of thofe who
call themfelves friends , then thofe who
own themfelves enemies.
7. These are the hneaments of this:
vice of Flattery, which fure do toge-
ther make up a face of moft extreme de-
formity. I might upon a true account
add another , and charge it with folly too.
I am fure according to the Divine efli-
mate it is alvvaies fo : and truly it do's
not feldom prove fo in. the fecular alfo.
Men of this art do fomtimes drop their
vizard before they have got the prize, 1
andi
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 147
and then there is nothing in the world
that appears fo contemtible, fo filly; a
barefaced Flatterer being every bodies
fcorn. The fliort is, wherever this game
is plaied there is alwaies a fool in the
cafe : if the parafite be detecfted , it falls
to his iharc: if he be not, to his whom
he deludes. But at the bcft 'tis but fub-
tilty and cunning he can boaft of; and
if he can in his own fancy raifc that to
the opinion of true Wifdom , 'tis a fign
he is come round to pracftice his deceits
upon himfelf , and is as much his own
Flatterer as he has bin others.
8. And now I know not whether it
be more fliame or wonder , to fee that
m^w can fo put offingenuity , and the na-
tive greatncfs of their kind, as to de-
fcend to fo bafe , fo ignoble a vice : yet alas
we daily fe.'^ it don , and that not only by
the fcum and refufe of the people, fuch
as Job fpeaks of, who are viler thejttbe
earth , Cap. 30. 8. but by Perfons of all
conditions Flattery like a fpringforc'd
upwards afcends , as cares are by the wife
man faid to defcend, Eccluf ^0.4. from
him that weareth a linen frock to him
that i2jeareth a crown : all intermedial de-
grees are but like pipes , which as they
T z fuck
148 The Government of the Tongue.
fuck from below , fo tranfmit it dill up-
wards. There are few fo low but find
fome body to cajole and flatter them.
Some intereft or other may fomtimes be
to be ferved even upon the meaneft , and
thofe that find themfelves thus folicited
for benefits, are eafily taught by ithow
to addrefs to their immediate fuperiors ,
from whom they expert greater : and as
'tis thus handed from one rank to an-
other, the art flill is more fubtilized and
refined ( God help poor Princes the while ,
who commonly meet with the Elixir,
and quinteflence of this venem : ) and
thus it pafTes thro all dates and conditions-,
as they are pafiive on the one fide , and
are flattered by fome, fo they are adlive
on the other, and flatter others.
9. I fay all conditions , I do not fay all
Perfons in thofe conditions, for no truly
generous foul can fl:oop fo lowtbut 'tis too
evident to what a low ebb Generofity as
well as Chriftianity is grown , by the
numbers of thofe who thus degrade them-
felves , every little petty intereft being
thought worth thefe bafe fubmiflions.
And truly it is hard to find , by what To-
pic of perfwafion to affault fuch men. The
meannefs , or the fin will fcarce be difiAva-
fives
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 149
fives to thofe who have reconciled
themfelves to both : if any thing can be
pertinently faid to them , it muft be up-
on the fcore of Intereft , for that being
their grand principle , they can with no
pretence difclame the inferences drawn
thence.
10. Let them therefore duly bal-
lance the advantages they projecS from
this praftice with the mifchiefs and dan-
gers of 'Vi. What they exped is common-
ly either Honor or wealth , thefe they
hope may be acquired by their proflra-
tions to thofe , who can difpenfe or pro-
cure them. 'Tistrue, as Honor {ignifies
Greatnefs and power, it is fomtimes
attain'd by it, but then as it fignifies
Reputation and efleem , 'tis as fureto be
loft. He that thus afcends , maybelookt
on with fear , but never with reverence.
Now I think 'tis no good bargain to ex-
change this fecond notion of Honor for
the firft: for befides the difference in the
intrinfic value, *tis to beconfider'dhow
tottering a Pinacle unmerited Greatnefs
is. He that rais'd him to fatisfy his hu-
mor at one time , can ( with more eafc
and equal juftice ) throw him down at
another: and when fuch a man do's fall,
he
1 5*0 The Government of the Tongue.
he falls as without pity , fo without re-
medy, has no foundation on which to
rebuild his fortune. His Sycophanting
arts being detected , that Game is not to
be plaid the fecond time: whereas a man
of a clear reputation, tho his barque be
fpht, yet he faves his Cargo , hasfonie-
thing left towards fetting up again , and
fo is in capacity of receiving benefit not
only from his own induftry, but the
friendihip of others. A found piece oL
Timber, if it be not thought fit for one
"ufc, yet will be laid by for another: and
an honefl man will probably at one time
or other be thought good for fome-,
thing.
II. As for the other aim, that of Wealth/
'tis very poflible that may fomtimcs be
compacted ; and well it may , the flatterer ,j
having feveral Springs to feed it by. For
he that has a great Patron , has the ad-
vantage of his countenance and Autori-
ty , he has that of his bounty and libera-
lity , and he has another ( fomtimes great-
er then both) that of his negligence
and deceivablenefs. But yet all thefe
acquifitions are many times like Fairy
mony , what is brought one night is taken
^NMay the next. Men of this mold fel-
. i dom
SEct.Vm. Of Flattery, 151
dom know how to bear profperity tem-
perately , and it is no new thing to fee
a Privado carry it fo high , as to awaken
the jealoufy of his promoter , which be-
ing aflided by the bufyinduftryof thofe
who envy his fortune , 'twill be cafy e-
liough to find fome flawinhis Gettings,
by which to unravel the whole Web:
an event that has bin oft experimented
not only in the private managery of Fa-
milies , but in the moll public admini-
flrations. And thefe are fuch hazards,
that laid all together would much recom-
mend to any the Moral of Hor^accs Fa-
ble , and make one chufc the Country
Moufes plain fare and fafety , rather then
the delicacies of the City with fo much
danger. This then is the ftatc of the
profperous Parafite : but alas how many
are there who never arrive to this , but
arc kickt down ere they have climb'd
the two or three firft rounds of the Lad-
der , whofe defigns are fo humble , as
not to afpire above a Major-Domo,
or fome fuch domeftic preferment.
( for in this trade there are adventurers
of all fizes. ) But upon all thefe
confiderations , methinks it appears no
very inviting one to any. At the long
run
1 5X The Government of the Tongue.
run an honcfl freedom of fpeech will
more recommend a man , then all thefe
fneaking flatteries: we have a very wife
mans word for it: he that rebuketh a
man , afterwards shall find more favor ,
then he that flattereth with his li^s. Pro.
28. X3.
IX. But after all that hath or cart
be faid, the fupprelTion of Flattery will
mofl depend upon thofe Perfons to whom
it is addreft : if it be not repuls'd there »
nothing elfc will difcourage it ; and if it
be, 'tis cruilit in the egg, and can pro
duce no viper. Thefe Vulturs prey only
on carcafrcs,on fuch ftupid minds, as have
not life and vigor enough to fray them a
way. Let but Perfons of quality enter*
tain fuch cuftomers with a fcvere brow ,
with fome fmart exprelTion of diflike*
thofe Leeches will immediatly fall ofF. In
Sparta when all laws againft theft prov'd
inefTedual, at lad they fixt the penalty on
them that were rob*d , and by that did
the bufmefs : and in the prefent cafe , if
'twere made as [infamous to be flatter'd
as 'tis to flatter, I believe it might have
the like effect. Indeed there is pretence
enough to make it fo : for firftas to Wit ,
the advantage is clear on the Flatterers
fide.
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 15-3
fide : he mufl be allowed to have more
of that ( which in this age is more then
a counterpoife to honefty ; ) and as for
vertue, the balance (as to the principal
motive) feems to hang pretty even: 'tis
the vice of Avarice thattemtstheoneto
flatter , and the vice of Pride that makes
it acceptable to the other. The truth is »
there is the bottom of the matter : 'tis
that fecret confederate within , that ex-
pofes men to thofe affaults from with-
out. We have generally fuch an appe-
tite to praife , that we greedily fuck it in
without flaying to examine whether it be-
long to us or no , or whether it be defign'd
as a kindnefs or an abufe. Other injuries
rufli upon us with violence, and give us
notice of their approch : they may be
faid to come like isjater into our bowels ;
but this like oil into our bones Vidi. 109. 18.
penetrates eafily , undifcernibly , by help
of that native propenfion we have to re-
ceive it. 'Tis therefore the near concern
of all , elpecially of thofe whofe quality
mofl expofes them , to keep a guard up-
on that trecherous inmate, not to let
that flep into the fcale to make a bafe Sy-
cophant out-weigh a true friend, and
when ever they are attacqued with ex-
V trava-
1 5*4 The Government of the Tongue.
trava^ant Encomiums , lot them fortify
thcmfelves with this Dilemma , Either
they have ihofe excellences they are prai-
fed for , or they have not : if they have
not, 'tis an apparent cheat and gull, and he
is of a pittifiil forlorn underftanding that
delights to be fool'd ; but if they have ,
they are too good to be expofed to fuch
worms who will inftantly wither the
faireft gourd , Jon. 4. 7.
For as it is laid o{ i\\c Grand Signior ,
that no grafs growes where his horfc
once treads : fo we may fay of the Flat-
terer , no vertue ever profpers where he
is admitted: if he find any he hugs it
till he flifles it, if he find none, he
fp indifpofcs the foil, that no future feeds
'can. ever take root. In fine, he is a
mifchief beyond the dcfcription of any
Charader. O let not men then ad this
JP^rr. to themfelves by being their own
paVafites ! and than 'twill be an eafy thing
'to efcape all others.
^^^ GJ StCT.
it.M
Sect. IX. Of Boafttng. 1 5-5'
Sect. I X.
Of Boajling*
Jt. TTTE have now fcen fonie efic(n:s
W of an ungovern'd Tongue, as
they relate to God and our Neighbor.
There is yet a third fort which reflect up-
on a mans felf. So unboundedly mifchie-
vous is that petulant member, that hea-
ven and earth are not wide enough for its
range , but it will find work at home too ;
and like the viper, that after it had de-
voured its companions , prci'd upon its
felf, fo it corrodes inward, and be-
comes often as fatal to its owner , as to
all the world befides.
^. 0¥ this there are as many inftan-
ces , as there are imprudent things faid ,
for all fuch have the word refledlion up-
on the fpeaker : and therefore all that
have given rules for civil life , have in
order to it put very fevere reftraints
upon the Tongue , that it run not be-
fore the judgment. 'Tw^as the advice of
V % Zem
15-6 The Government of the Tongue.
Zeno to dif the Tongue in the mind be-
fore one should permit it to fpeak. Theo-
fhrafius ufed to fay , It was/afer triift'tng
to an unbridled horfe , then to intemperate
Jpeech. And daily experience confirms the
Aphorifm ; for thofe that fet no guard up-
on their Tongues , are hurried by them
into a thoufand indecences, and very
often into reall confidcrable mifchiefs.
By this means men have proved their
own delators , difcovered their own mod
important fecrets: and whereas their
heart fhould have kept a lock upon their
Tongue , they have given their Tongue
the key of their heart , and the event has
bin oft as unhappy as the proceeding
was prepofterous. There are indeed fo
many waies for men to lofe themfelves
in their talk , that I lliould do the like
if I fliould pretend to trace them. Be-
fides my fubjedl leads me not to difcourfc
Ethically , but Chriflianly of the faults
of the Tongue, and therefore I have
all a long confidcred the one no farther
then it happens to be twifled with the o-
ther.
3. In the prefent cafe I fhall infifl
only upon one fault of the Tongue , which
partakes of both kinds, and it is at once
a
S E c T . IX. Of Boafling. 1 5^7
a vice and a folly, I mean that of Boaft-
ing and vaunting a mans felf : a ftrain
to which fome mens tongties have a
wonderful glibnefs. No difcourfe can be
adminiflrcd , but they will try to turn
the Tide , and draw it all into their own
Chanel , by entertaining you with long
llories of themfelves : or if there be no
room for that , they willatleaftfcrewin
here and there fome intimations of what
they did orfaid. Yeafoftupidavanity is
this, that it works alike upon all materials:
not only their greater and more illuftrious
adls or fentences , but even their mod
flight and trivial occurrences , by being
theirs , they think acquire a confiderablc-
nefs , and are forcibly impofed upon the
company ; the very dreams of fuch peo-
ple flrait commence prophefy , and are as
ferioufly related, as if they were undoubt-
ed revelations. And fure if we rcflc<{l:
Mpon our Saviors rule , that Out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth fpeak-
€th y we cannot but think thefe men are
very full of themfelves ; and to be fo, is
but another phrafc for being very Proud.
So 'tis Pride in the heart , w4iich is the
fpring that feeds this perpetual current
at the mouth, and under that notion we
arc to confider it. 4. And
1 5-8 The Government of the Tongue.
4. And truly there is nothing can
render it more infamous , Pride being a
vice that of all others is the moft brand-
ed in Scripture as moft deteftable to
God , and is fignahzed by the punishment
to be fo. This turned Lucifer out of
Heaven, Nebuchadnezzar out of his
Throne, nay out of Human focicty. And
indeed it feems ftiil to have fomcthing
of the fame effeft , nothing rendring a
man fo inconfiderable ; for it fets him
above the meaner fort of company , and
makes him intolerable to the better , and
to complete the parallel, he feldom comes
to know himfelf till he be turn'd a graz-
ing, be reduced to fome extremities.
5. B u T this Boafting arrogant hu-
mor, thoalwaiesbad, yet is more or kfs
fo according to the Subject on which it
works. If it be only on Natural excels
lences , as Beauty, Wit; or accidental
acquifitions , as Honor, Wealth, or the}
like , yet even there 'tis not only a Theft ,j
but a Sacriledg ; the glory of thofe being'
due only to the Donor , not to the re-
ceiver, there being not fo much as any;
predifpofition in the fubjet^ to deter-
mine Gods bounty. He could have made
the moft deformed Beggar as handfora
and
S E c T . IX. Of Boafting. 15-9
and as rich , as thofe who moil pride
themfelves in their wealth and beau-
ty. No man fancies himfelf to be his
own Creator , and tho fom have afTuni-
ed to be the -Architects of their own
fortunes, yet the frequent defeats of
mens induftry and contrivance, dofuffi-
ciently confute that bold pretence, and
evince , that there is fomething above
them , which can either blaft or profpcr
their attemts. What an invafion then
is it of Gods right, to ingrofs the honor
of thofe things being don , which were
not at all in their power to do ? And
fure the folly is as great '\\\ refpeft of
men , as the fin is towards God. This
boafting like a heavy Nurfe, overlaies
the Child : the vanity of that quite drowns
the notice of the things in which 'tis
founded; and men are not fo apttofay ,
fuch a man is Handfom , Wife , or Great ,
as that he is proud upon the fancy of
being fo. In a word he that celebrates
his own excellences, muft be content
with his own applaufcs , for he will get
none of others , unlefs it be from thofe
fawning Sycophants , whofe praifes are
Worfe then bittereft Detraction.
6. And yet fo fottilh a vice is Pride,
that
1 60 The Government of the Tongue.
that it can make even thofe infidious
Flatteriesmatterofboaft,\vhichisamuch
more irrational objeft of it then the
former. How eagerly do fome men pro-
pagate every httle Encomium their Pa-
rantes make of them ? With what guft
and fenfuality will they tell how fuch a
Jeft of theirs took , or fuch a Magnifi-
cence was admired ? 'Tis pleafant to fee
what little Arts and dexterities they have
to wind in fuch things into difcourfe :
when alas it amounts to no more then this,
that fome have thought them fools e-
nough to be flatter'd , and 'tis odds but
the hearers will think them enough fo
to be laught at.
7. But there is yet another Subject:
of Boafting more foolilh , and more crimi-
nal too then either of the former, and
that is when men vaunt of their Piety ,
which if it were true , were yet lefs ow-
ing to themfelves then any natural en-
dowment. For tho we donotatallaflift
towards them, yet do we neither ob-
llrud ; but in the operations of Grace
'tis otherwife; we have there a principle J
of oppofition , and God never makes us
his own till he fubdue that: and tho he
do itjnot by an irrcfiftible force , but by |
fuch I
Sect. IX. Of Boafting. 1 6i
fuch fvveet and gentle infinuations , that
we are fometimes captivated ere we are
aware : yet that do's not impeach his
right of conqueft , but only Ihews him
the more gracious conqueror. 'Tis true
in refpe6t of the event we have great
caufe of exultance and joy, Gods fervice
being the moft perfect freedom : yet in
regard of the efficiency , we have as
little matter of Boafl , as the furprized
City has in the triumphs of its vidor.
8. B u T fecondly either this vaunted
Piety is not rcall , and then 'tis good for
nothing , or elfe by being vaunted be-
comes fo. If it be not real , 'tis then the
fuperadding Hypocrify to the former fa-
Criledg , an attemt at once to rob God
and cheat men , and in the event ufually
renders them hateful to both ; to God
( who cannot be mocked ) it do's fo at
the inftant , and feldom miffes to do io
at laft to men. An Hypocrite has a long
part to a^l , and if his memory fail him
but in any one fcene, hisplay isfpoiled:
fo that his hazards are fo great , that 'tis as
little prudent as 'tis honed to fet up the
trade , efpecially in an age when Piety xx.
felf is at fo low a price , that its coun-
lerfeit cannot pais for much. But if the
X piety
1 6x The Government of the Tongue.
Piety be indeed true, the Boafting it
blalts it, makes it utterly infignificant.
This we are told by Chr'tji himfclf, who
affures us , that even the mod Chriftian
anions of praier, almes , and fading,
muft expe^ no other reward (when
boafted) then the fought-forapplaufeof
men. Mat. 6. When a man iliall make
his own tongue the trumpet of his Alms ,
or the echo of his Praiers , he carves , or
rather fnatches his own reward , and muft
not look God lliould heap more upon
him : the recompence of his pride he may
indeed look for from him , but that of his
vertue he has foreftall'd. In fhort , piety is
like thofe lamps of old, which main-
tain d their light fome Ages under ground,
but as foon as they took air expired. And
furely there cannot be a more deplora-
ble folly , then thus to lofe a rich Jewel :
only for the pitiful plefure of fliewing
it : its the humor of Children and Idiots ,
who muft be handling their birds till
they fly away , and it ranks us with them
in point of difcretion, tho not of in-
nocence.
9. From the view of thefe particu-
lars we may in the grofs conclude that
this oflentationis a mod foolilh fin , fuch
as
Sect. IX. Of Boa ft mg. 163
as never brought in advantage to any
man. There is no vice fo undermines it
feif as tiiis do's : 'tis glory it fecks , and in
flead of gaining that, it lofes com-
mon ordinary eftimarion. Every body
that fees a bladder puft up , knows 'tis
but wind that fo fvvells it : and there is
no furer argument of a hght frothy brain
then this bubljhng at the mouth. Indeed
there is nothing renders any man io con-
temtible , fo utterly ufelefs to the world :
it excludes him almoll from all com-
merce , makes him uncapable of receiving
or doing a benefit. No man will do him
a good turn becaufe he forefees he will ar-
rogate it to himfclf, as the efle^l of his me-
rit : and none ( that arc not in fome great
exigence) will receive one from him, as
knowing it iliall be not only procla-
med , but magnified much above the true
worth. There fccms to be but one pur-
pofe for which he ferves , and that is to
be fport for his company : and that he
feldom fails to be , for in thefe gamefomc
daies men will not lofe fuch an oppor-
tunity of divertifement , and therefore
will purpofely give him hints , which
may put him upon his Rhodomontades
I do not fpcak this by way of encourage-
X 2 ment
1 64 The Government of the Tongue.
ment to them , but only to Ihew thefe
vaporers , to what fcorn they expofe
themfelves , and what advantage they
give to any that have a mind to abufc
them : for they need not be at any pains I
for it , they do but fwim with rheir ftream;
an approving nod or fmile ferves to
drive on the defign , and make them dif-
play themfelves more difadvantagioufly ,
more ridiculoufly , then the moftSatyri-
cal Character couid poflibly do.
10. But befides thefe fportive pro-
jecfts , fuch a man laies himfelf open to
more dangerous circumventions. He that
shews himfelf fo enamour'd of praife ,
that ( Narcijfm like ) dotes on his own I
reflecftions , is a fit prey for Flatterers ,
and fuch a Carcafe will never want
thofe Eagles : when his weak part is once
difcern'd (as it mull foon be when him-1
felf publillies it) he Ihall quickly be fur-
rounded with afTailants. The laft Se»R:i-
on has fliewed the mifery of a man fo
befieged , therefore I fliall not enlarge
on it here , this mention being only in-
tended to evince how apt this vain glo-
rious humor is to betray men to it.
11. T H E s E are competent Speci- j
mens of the folly of this vice: but it has yet II
a far-'
Sect. IX, Of Boafling. i6^
a farther aggravation , that it precludes all
means of growing vvifer : 'tis Salomons
affertion , Seeft thoii a man 'UDife in his
own conceit ? there is more hope of a Fool
then of him ^ Pro. 26. ix. And the reafon
is evident , for he difcards the two grand
•inftruments of inftru^lion , Admonition
and Obfcrvation. The former he thinks
fuperfeded by his own Perfections , and
therefore when any fuch friendly office
is attcmtcd towards him , he imputes
it either to Envy, and a deftre to eclipfe
his luftre by finding fome fpot , or elfc
to Ignorance and incapacity of cflimat-
ing his worth : the one lie entertains with
Indignation , the other with difdainful
Pity, As for Obfervation , he fo circum-
fcribes it within himfelf, that it can ne-
ver fetch in any thing from without.
Reading of men has bin by fome thought
the mod facile and expedite Method
for acquiring Knowledg ; and fure for
fome kinds of Knowledg it is ; but then
a man mud not only read one Author,
much lefs the one worft he can pick out
for himfelf. ^Tis an old true faying ,
He that is his own Pupil shall have a
Fool for his Tutor : and truly he that
lludies only himfelf, will be like to make
but
1 66 The Government of the Tongue.
but a forry Progrefs. Yet this is the cafe
of arrogant men , they lofe all the be-
nefit of Converfation , and when they
fhould be enriching their Minds with
forreign trefure , they are only counting
over their own flore. Inflead of advert-
ing to thofe fober difcourfes which they
hear from others, they are perhaps
watching to interrupt them by fome
pompous Story of themfclves , or at leaft
in the abundance of their felf-fufficiency ,
think they can fay much better things ,
Magiflerially obtrude their own notions ,
and fall a teaching when 'tis fitter they
ihould learn : and fure to be thus for-
ward to lay out , and take no care to
bring in , mud needs end in a Bankrupt
Hate. 'Tis true I confefs the ftudy of a
mans-felf is (rightly taken) the moft
ufeful part of Learning, but then it
muft be fuch a Study as brings him to
know himfelf , which none do fo little
as thefe men , who in this are like thofe
filly women the Apoftlc defcribes,x. Tim.
3. 7. Who are ever learning yet ne-
ver attain. And *tis no wonder, for
they begin at the wrong end, make no
inquiry into their faults or defe^ls , but
fix their Contemplation only on their
more
Sect. IX. Of Boafi'tng. i6y
more fplendid qualities , with which they
are fo dazled , that when you bring them
to the darker parts of themfclves , it
fares with them as with thofe that come
newly from gazing on the Sun, they
can fee nothing.
IX. And now having dilTcdred this
fwelling vice , and ^Qcn what it is that
feeds the tumor, the cure fuggefts it
fclf If the difeafe be founded in Pride,
the abating that is the mod natural and
proper remedy: and truly one would
think that mere weighing of the fore-
going confiderations , might prove fuflici-
ent allaies to it. Yet becaufc where humors
are turgcnt, 'tis necelTary not only to
purge them , but alfo to Itrengthen the
iiifefted parts, I fliall adventure to give
fomc few advices by way of Fortification
and Antidote.
13. In the firft place , that of the A-
poille offers it fclftomyhand, Looknot
every man on his o~jun things , but every
man alfo on the things of others, Phil.
1. 4. A counfil whichinadiftortedfenfe
feems to be too muchprafticed. We arc
, apt to apply it to worldly advantages ,
and in that notion not to look on our
own things with thankful nefs , but on o-
ther
1 68 The Government of the Tongue.
thcr mens with envy. We apply it al-
fo to errors and fms , and look not on
our own to correct: and reform , but on
others to defpife and ccnfure. Let us at
laft take it in the genuine fenfe , and
not look on our own excellencies , but
thofe of others. We fee in all things
how defu etude do's contract and narrow
our faculties , fo that we can apprehend
only thofe things wherein we are con-
verfant. The droiling Pefant fcarce thinks
there is any world beyond his own Vil-
lage , or the neighboring Markets , nor
any gaity beyond that of a Wake or
Morrice ; and men who are accuftom'd
only to the admiration of themfelves,
think there is nothing befide them wor-
thy of regard. Thefe unbred minds mud
be a little fent abroad , made acquain-
ted with thofe excellencies which God
has bellowed on other men , and then
they will not think themfelves like Gi-
deons fleece to have fuckt up all the
dew of heaven : nay perhaps , they may
find they rather anfwer the other part
of the miracle ; and are drier then their
neighbors. Let them therefore put them-
felves in this courfe , obfervc diligently
all the good that is vifible in other men :
and
Sect. IX. Of Boafthig. 1 69
and when they find themfelves mounting
into their altitudes , let them clog their
wings with the remembrance of thofe
who have out-foar'd them , not in vain
opinion, butintrlie worth. Tis nothing
but the fancy of fingularity that puffs us
up. To breath , to walk , to hear , to fee ,
are excellent powers, yet no body is
proud of them , becaufe they are com-
mon to the whole kind : and therefore
if we would obferve the great number
of thofe that equal , or exceed us , even
in the more appropriate endowments,
we fliould not put fo exceflive a price
upon our felves.
14. Secondly if we will needs be re-
flefting upon our felves , let us do it more
ingenioufly , more equally , let us take a
true furvey, and obferve as well the bar-
ren as the fertil part of the foil : and if
this were don , many mens value w ould
be much lliort of what they are willing
to fuppofe it. Did we but compare our
crop of Weeds and Nettles , with that of
our Corn, we mull either think our
ground is poor , or our felves every ill
husbands. When therefore the recolle(fti-
on of either real or fancied worth begins
to make us aery, let us condenfe again
Y by
I/O The Government of the Tongue.
by the remembrance of our fms and
folly : 'tis the only poflible fervice theyi
can do us , and confidering how dearj
they are to coft us , we had not neec
lofe this one accidental advantage. Inj
this fenfe Satan may cafl out Satan , oui
yileft guilts help to ejeft our pride ; am
did we well manage this one flratageml
againft him , 'twould give us more caufe
of triumph , then moll of thofe things
for which wx fo fpread our plumes : I
do not fay we lliould contract new guilts
to make us humble, God knows we
need not, we have all of us enough of
the old flock if we would but thus em-
ploy them.
15-- In the lad place I fliould advife
thofe who are apt to talk big things of
themfelves , to turn into fome other road
of difcourfe : for if they are their own
Theme, their tongues will as naturally
turn into Eulogies , as a horfe do's into
that Inn to w^iich he is cuftomed. All
habits do require fome little excefs of
the contrary to their cure : for we have
not fo juft a fcantling of our felves , as
to know to a grain what will level the
fcales , and place us in the right Medio-
crity. Let men therefore that have this
*^-: infirmity
Sect. IX. Of Boafi'tng, i -jx
infirmity , Ihun ( as far as prudence and
interell permits ) all difcuurfe of tliem-
felves , till they can fever it from that
unhappy appendage. They will not be at
all the lefs acceptable company , it being
generally thought none of the beft parts
of breeding , to talk much of ones felf:
for tho it be don fo as not to argue pride
yet it do's ignorance of more worthy
lubjefts.
1 6. I Ihould here conclude this Secti-
on , but that there is another fort of
vaunting Talk, which was not well re-
ducible to any of the former Heads , the
Subjed: matter being vaftly dillant : for
in thofe the Boafling was founded in
fome either real or fuppofed worth , but
in this in Bafenefs and villany. There
are a Generation of men , who have re-
moved all the Land-marks which their
Fathers ( nay even the Father of Spirits )
havefet, reverfl the common notions of
Humanity, and call evil good, and good
evil, and thofe things which a moderate
impudence would bluih to be furprifed
in , they not only proclame but boafl
off, blow the Trumpet as much before
their crimes, as others before their good
deeds. Nay fo much do theyafFedl this
Y X inverted
I ji The Government of the Tongue.
inverted fort of Hypocrify , that the
own more wickednefs then theyaft, a
fume to have made Praclical the highe
Speculations of villany , and hke th
Devils Knights errant, pretend tothoft
Romantic atchievments , which the v
riefl Fiend incarnate could never com
pafs. Thefc are fuch Prodigies, fuc
Monflers of villany , that tho they ari
the objeds of Grief and Wonder , they
are not of Counfil. Men who thus rave
we may conclude their brains are turn
ed , and one may as well read Lecture
at Bedlam as treat with fuch. Yet w
know that tliere fliarp corrections reco-
ver crazed men to Sobriety; and ther
their Cure lies only in the hand of Ci
vil Juftice : if that would take them a
their words, receive their brags as Con
feflions , and punilli them accordingly
it may be a little real fmart would cor
re^t this mad Itch , and teach them no
to glory m their shame. Phil. 3. 19.
In the mean time let others wh
are not yet arrived to this height , con-^
fider betimes , that all indulgent practice
of fm is the direct Road to it , and ac
cording to the degrees of that indul
gence, they make more orlefshaft. H
that
S E c T. IX. Of Boaft'tng, 1 73
that conftantly and habitually indulges ♦
rides upon the Spur, and will quickly
overtake his Leaders. Nay if it be but this
one vice of vanity, it may finally bring
him to their ftates. He that loves to brag ,
will fearce find exercife enough for that
faculty in his vertues , and therefore may
at laft be temtcd to take in his vices al-
fo. Bur that which is more ferioufly
confidcrable is , that Pride is fo provok-
ing to Almighty God, that it often
caufes him to withdraw his Grace , which
is a Donative he has promifcd only to
the humble. Jam. 4. 6. And indeed w hen w^c
turn that Grace into wantonnefs, as the
Proud man do's who is pamper'd by it
into high conceits of himfelr , 'tis not
probable God will any longer proftitute
his favors to fuch abufe. The Apoflle
obferves it of the Gentiles , who had '\\\
contradicflion of their natural light a-
bandon'd themfelves to vile Idolatries ,
that God after gave them up to a refrobate
ni'md andvile afleBions. Rom. i. 25. z6.
But the Proud now^ ftifle a much clearer
light , and give up themfelves to as bafe an
Idolatry, the adoration of themfelves.
And therefore 'tis but equal to exped God
iliould defert them , and ( as Ibmc Nati-
ons
1 74 The Government of the Tongue.
ens have Deified their difeafes ) permit
them to celebrate even tlieir fowlefl en-
ormities. The appHcation of all I fliall
fum up in the words of the Apoftle. Rom.
1 1 . X I . Take heed alfo that hejfare not thee.
Sect. X,
Of G^uendoufnefs.
I. ^Tp O this of Boafting may not un-
X fitly be fubjoin'd another inor-
dinancy of the Tongue , viz. murmuring
and complaining. For tho thefe faults
feem to differ as much in their comple-
xions , as Sanguine do's from Melancholy,
yet there is nothing more frequent then
to fee them united in the fame Perfon.
Nor is this a conjunction of a later date,
but is as old as St. Jude^s daies , who ob-
ferves that the murmur ers and complainers
are the very fame with thofe who fpeak
great /welling words , Jude 1 6.
^. Nor are we to wonder to find them
thus conjoined , if we confider what an
original cognation and kindred they
have
S E c T. X. Of ^eruloufhefs. 1 7 ^
have , they being ( however they feem
devided) flreams iffuing from the fame
fountain. For the very fame Pride which
promts a man to vaunt and overvalue
what he is , do's as forcibly inchne him
to contemn and difvalue what he has;
whilft mefuring his enjoiments by that
vaft Idea he has form'd of himfelf , *tis
impoifible but he muft think them below
him.
3. This indeed is the true original of
tjiofe perpetual complainings we hear
from all forts and conditions of men.
For let us pafs thro all Degrees , all
Ages , wx fliall rarely find a fingle Pcr-
fon, muchlcfsany member of men, ex-
emtfrom this Querulous, this fullen hu-
mor : as if that breath of life where-
with God originally infpired us , had bin
given us not to magnify his Bounty,
but to accufe his illiberality , and like the
difmaller fort of inflruments , could be
tuned to no other Streins but thofe of
Mourning and Lamentation. Every man
contributes his note to this doleful Har-
mony , and after all that God has don to
oblige and delight mankind, fcarce any
man is fatisfied enough , I will not fay to
fbe thankfuU , but to be patient. For alas
what
176 The Government of'the Tongue.
what Tragical complaints do men make
of their infehcity, when perhaps their
profperity is as much the envious out-
cry of others ? Every little defeat of a
defisn, of an appetite, every little difre-
gard from thofe above them, or lefsfo-
lemn obfervance from thofe below them ,
makes t\\zix: Heart hot within thetn, Pfal.
39. 3. and the tongue (that combuftible
part ) quickly takes fire and breaks out
into extravagant exclamations. It is in-
deed Itrange to fee how weighty every
the triviallefl thing is when a pafTion
is caft into the fcale with it, how every the
llighteft inconvenience or petty want
preponderates hundreds of great fubftan-
tial bleflings: when indeed were it in an
inftance never fo confiderablc , it could be
nojuft; Counterpoife. Yetfo clofely is this
corruption interwoven with our confli-
tution, that it has fometimes prevailed
even upon good men. Jacob ihjo he had
twelve fons, yet upon the fuppofed
death of one defpis'd the comforts of
all the reft , and with an obftinate for-
row refolves to go mourning to his
Grave. Gen. 35-. 37. David after that
fignal victory which had preferv'd his
life , reinflatcd him iw his Throne , and
reftor d
i
S E c T. X. , Of ^eruloufnefs. ijj
rcftor'd liim to the Ark and Sanctuary,
yet fufFer'd the lofs of his rebelhous fon ,
who was the Author of his danger , to
overw^iehii the fenfe of his dehverance ,
and inflead of Hymns and praifes , breaks
out into ejulations and effeminate wail-
ings, xSam. i8- 35.
4. But God knows the mod of our
complaints cannot pretend co fuchconfi-
derable motives : they are not the bowels
of a Father , the imprclTes of Nature
that excite ourrepinings , buttheimpul-
ics of our lulls and inordinate appetites.
Oar difcontents are ufually fuch as A-
hab's {ov\\\s neighbors vineyard, Haman's
for MardecaPs obeifancc , Achitofhets
for having his counfd rejected. Every
difappointmcnt of our avarice , ambi-
tion, and pride, fill's our hearts with bit-'
terncfs and our mouths with clamors.
For if we iliould examine the numerous
complaints which found in every cor-
ner, it would doubtlefs be found that the
greatcft part of them have fome fuch
original: and that, whether the preten-
ded grievances be pubHc or private. For
the firft : many a man is a ftatc male-
content, merely becaufe he fees another
advanced to that honor or wealth which
Z he
1 78 The Government of the Tongue.
he thinks he has better deferv'd. He is
alwaies inveighing againll fuch unequal
diftributions, where the bed fervices
( fuch you may be fure his own are )
arc the word rewarded: nor do's he ever
ceafe to predi6l public ruines , till his pri-
vate arc repared. But as foon as that
is don , his Augury grows more mild : and
as if the eftate and he were like Htf {Dera-
tes % twins, his recruites give new vigor
to that , and till his next fuit is denied ,
every thing is well adminiflred. So full
alas men are of themfclves , that 'tis hard
to find any the moft fplendid pretences
which have not fomething of that at the
bottom: and would every man ranfack
his own heart , and refolve not to caft a
ftone till he had firftcleer'ditof allfini-
fler refpefts , perhaps the number of our
complainers would be much abated.
5. Nor is it otherwife in private
difcontenrs. Men are apt to think
themfclves ill ufed by any man who will
not ferve their intereft or their humor ,
nay fometinies their vices; and are prone
in all companies to arraign fuch an unpli-
ant Perfon , as if he were an enemy to
mankind , becaufe he is not a flave to
their will. How many have quarreld e-
veii
S E c T. X. Of ^teruloufnefs. \ -j^
ven with their deareft friends , becaufe
they would not affifl thcni to their own
ruine , or have driven to divert them
from it : fo forcible are our propenfions
to mutiny , that we equally take occa-
fions from benefits or injuries.
6. But the highefl and moll: unhap-
py inftance of all is in our behavior to-
wards God , whofe allotments we dif-
pute with the fame or rather greater
boldnefs then wedothofeof men. What
clfe mean thofe impatient murmurs at
thofe things which are the immediate if-
fues of his Providence ? Such are our na-
tive blemiihes , difeafes , death of friends ,
and the \\^q. Nay what indeed are our
difplefures even at thofe things which
we pretend to fallen upon Second Caufes?
For thofe being all under the fubordina-
tion of the firft, cannot move but by its
permiffion. This holy Job well difcern'd
and therefore do's not indite the Chalde-
ans or Sabeans for his plunder , but know-
ing they were but inftrumcnts , he fubmis-
ly acknowledges , that there was a high-
er agent in his lofs , The Lord hath ^^-
>^^;//zi2.'^Job.i.xi. When therefore wera-
vingly execrate the rapine of one man,
the deceit of another for our impoverilli-
Z 2 ment
i8o The Government of the Tongue.
ment, when we angrily charge our defa-
mation on the mahce of our maligners ,
our difappointments on the treachery or
neghgence of our friends , we do inter-
pretatively conclude either that there is
no over - ruhng providence which could
have rcflrained thofe events , or elfe
( which is equally horrid ) we accufe it
as not having don well in permitting
them. So that againfl whomfoever we
direct our clamors , their laft rebound is
againft Heaven ; this Querulous humor
carrying alwaies an implicite repugnance
to Gods difpofals : but where it is in-
dulged to, itufually is itsownexpofitor,
and explicitely avows it , charges God
foolifhly , and by impious murmurs
blafphemes that power which it can-
not refill:. Indeed the progrefs is very
natural for our impatiences at men to
fvvell into mutinies againfl God : for
w4ien the mind is onCe imbitter'd , it
diftinguiihes not of objeds, but indiffer-
ently lets fly its venem. He that frets
himfelf, the Prophet tells us , will curfe
his King, nay hi^ God, Ifa. 8. xi. and he
tliat quarrels at Gods diflributions , is
in the direct road to defie his Being.
7. B Y this we may eftimate the dan-
ger
S E c T. X. Of ^eruloiifnefs. 1 8 1
ger of our difcontents , which the at
firfl they are introduced by the inordi-
nate love of our felves , yet are very apt
to terminate in hatred and Blafphemies
againft God, He therefore that would
fecure himfelf from rhe higheil degree ,
mud watch againft the loweft ; as he
that would prevent a total Inundation ,
muft avert the fmalleft breach in his
Banks. Not but that even the firft be-
ginnings are in themfelves well worth
our guarding : for abftrading from all
the danger of this enormous increafe-,
ihcfe murmurings ( like a mortiferous
Herb ) arc poifonous even in their firft
Spring , before they arrive to their
full maturity. To be alwaies moraliz-
ing the Fable of Prometheus upon one's
fclf , playing the Vultur upon one's
own entrails , is no defirable thing , tho
we were accountable to none but out
felves for it : to dip our tongues in gall,
to have nothing in our mouth but the
cxtracl , and exhalation of our inward
bittcrnefs , is fure no great Senfuality.
So that did we confult only our own
cafe , we might from that fingle Topic
draw arguments enough againft our mu-
tinies.
8. B uT
i8x The Government of the Tongue.
8. B u rbefides our duty and eafe, our
credit and reputation make their plea al-
fo. Fortitude is one of the nobleft of mo-
ral vertues , and has the luck to appear
confiderablc even to thofe who defpife
all the reft. Now one of the moft proper
and eminent a6ts of that is, the bearing
adverfe events with an evennefs of tem-
per. This palTive valour is as much the
mark of a great mind as theaflive, nay
perhaps more , the later being often ow-
ing to the Animal , this to the Rational
part of man. And fure we muft ftrangcly
have corrupted the principles of Mora-
lity as well as Religion , if every turbu-
lent unrully Spirit, that fills the world
with blood and rapine , fhall have his
ferity called gallantry; yet that fober
courage , that maintains it felf againft all
the fliocks of Fortune , that keeps its
Poft in fpight of the rudeft encounters ,
fhall not be allowed at leaft as good a
name. And then on the contrary we
may conclude, that to fink under e-
vcry crofs accident , to be ftill whining
and complaining , crying out upon every
touch , is a note of a mean degcnerous
foul , below the dignity of our reafonable
nature. For certainly God never gave
us
S E c T. X. Of ^eruloufnefs. 183
us reafon for fo unkind a purpofe , as
only to quicken and inhancc the refent-
mentof ourfufferings , but rather to con-
trole thofe diforders , which the more
tumultuous part of us , our fenfes , are
apt to raife in us: and we are fo far men
and no farther, as we ufe it to that
end. Therefore if the dictates of re-
ligion cannot reftrain our murmurs , if
we are not Chriftians enough to fubmit
to the divine precepts of meeknefs and
acquiescence : yet let us at lead keep
within thofe bounds which ingenious
nature has fct us , and not by our un-
manly impatiencies enter common with
Brutes and Animals.
9. Nay I may farther add , if nei-
ther for Gods nor our own fakes , yet
for others , for humane focieties fake , this
querulous inclination lliould be fuppreft ;
there being nothing that renders a man
more unplefant, more uneafy compa-
ny. For ( befidcs that 'tis very apt to
vent it felf upon thofe with whom he
converfcs , rendring him capricious and
exccptious; and 'tis a harlh, a grating
found to hear a man alwaies in the
complaining Key) no man would wil-
lingly dwell within the noife of ihrceks
and
1 84 The Government of the Tongue.
and groans; and the exclamations of
the difcontented differ from thofe only
by being more articulate. It is a very un-
welcome importunity , to entertain a
mans company with remonftrances of
his own infehcities and mifadventures ,
and he that will relate all his grievances
to others , will quickly make himfelf one
to them. For tho he that is full of the
inward fenfe of them , thinks it rather
an cafe then oppreffion to fpeak them
out, yet the cafe is far otherwife with
his Auditors : they are perhaps as much
taken up with themfelves ; as he is , and is
little at ieifure to confider his concerns, as
he theirs. Alas we are notnowinthpfe
primitive daies , when there was as it
were one common fenfe among Chri-
ftians, \Y\\tn.if one member fiiffefd y all
the members Jujferd with it. i Cor. 12.
26. That Charity which gave that fym-
pathetic motion to the whole , is now
it felf benum'd, flows rarely beyond
the narrow compafs of our perfonal m-
terefl; and therefore we cannot expe<ft
that men fhould be very patient of our
complaints who are not concern'd in the
caufcs of them. The Priefts anfwer to
Judas do*s fpeak the fenfe of mofl men
S E c T. X . Of ^erttloufnefs . 185'
in the cafe What is that to us ? See thou
to that. Majc. 17. 4. I do not deny but
that the difcharging ones griefs into the
bofome of a true friend , is both inno-
cent and prudent : nay indeed he that
has fuch a trefure , is unkind to himfelf
if he ufe it not. But that which I would
diffwade , is the promifcuous ufe of this
liberty in common Converfation , the
fatisfying our Spleen , when wc cannot
eafe our hearts by it , the loud decla-
mings at our mifery , which is feldom fe-
ver'd from as fevere reflexions onthofe
whom we fuppofe the caufes of it ; by
which nothing can be acquired but the
opinion of our Impatience , or perhaps
fome new grievance from fome , w ho
think themfelvcs concern'd to vindicate
thofe whom wc afperfc. In a word 'tis
as indecent as it is unacceptable , and we
may obfervc all men arc willing to (link
out of fuch company, the Sober for
the hazards, and Jovial for the unplc-
fantnefs. So that the murmurer feems to
be turn'd off to the company of thofe
dolefulCreatures which theProphet men-
tions , which were to inhabit e the r nines of
Babylmi , 1 3 . xi . For he is ill Converfation
to all men , tho the worft of all to himfelf
A a 10. Ani?
1 86 The Government of the Tongue.
10. And now upon the force of all
thefe confiderations , I may reafonably
imprefs the Wife mans Counfil , Therefore
beware of murmuring , Wifd. i. ii. And in-
deed it is not the precept of the Wife-
man alone , but of all who have made
any juft pretence to that title. For
vvhenweconfiderthofe excellent lectures
of contentation and acquiefcence , where-
with the writings of Philofophers abound,
*tis hard to fay w hether they fpeak more
of inftrudion or reproch to us. When
their confufed notions of a Deity had gi-
ven them fuch impreffions of his Wif-
dom and goodnefs , that they would
not pretend to make any elections for
themfelves : how do's it Ihame our more
explicite knowledg , who dare not de-
pend on him in the fmalleft inftance?
who will not take his difpofalls for good ,
unlefs our fenfes become his fureties ?
which amounts but to that degree of
credit , which the mod faithlefs man
may expect from us , the trufling him
as far as we fee him. This is fuch a
contumely to him , as the Ethnic world
duril: not offer him , and is the peculiar
infolence of us degenerated Chriftians ,
who fure cannot be thought in earned
when
1
S E c T. X. Of ^eruloufnefs . 187
when we talk of Ringing Hallelujahs in
the next world to him , whilft we enter-
tain him here only with the fullen noife
of murmurs and repinings. For we are
not to think that Heaven will Meta-
morphofe us on a fudden , and turn our
exclamations and wild clamors into Lauds
and Magnificats. It do's indeed perfect
and crown thofe graces which were here
inchoate and begun , but no mans conver-
fion ever fucceeded his being there : for
Chrift has exprcfly told us , That ex-
cept we be converted , we j hall not enter in-
to the k'tn^doM of heaven : if we go hence
in our froward difcontents , they will
affociate us with thofe , with whom is
Weeping and wailing and gnashing of
teeth.
Aa 1 Sect.
i88 The Government of the Tongue.
Sect. XI.
Of Pofitivenefs,
I. ANOTHER very unhandfom
XX circumftance in difcourfe is the
Being over confident and peremtory , a
thing which do's very much unfit men
for converfation , it being lookt on as
the common birth-right of mankind , that
every man is to opine according to the
dicftaces of his own undcrftanding , not
anothers. Now this Percmrorinefs is of
two forts , the one a Magiflcriahiefs in
matters of opinion and fpeculation , the
other a Pofitivenefs in relating matters
of fa(5l:: in the one we impofc upon mens
underllandings , in the other on their
faith.
X. For the firft, he muft be much a
llranger in the world who has not met
with it : there being a generation of men ,
who as the Prophet fpeaks , j^re wife in
their own eies ^ and prudent in their own
fight : Ifa. 5". xi . Nay not only fo , but who
make
S E c T. XI. Of Tofit'ivenefs. 189
make themfelves the ftandards of vvifdom,
to which all are bound to conform , and
whoever weighs not in their balance , be
his reafons never fo weighty, they
write Tekel upon them. This is one of
the mofl oppreflive Monopolies imagi-
nable: all others can concern only fom-
thing without us , but this fattens upon
our nature, yea and the better part of it
too , our reafon ; and if it meet with thofc
who have any confidcrable fliare of that
within them , they will often be temted
to rally it , and not too tamely refign
this native liberty. Reafon fubmitsonly
to Reafon, and he that affaults it with bare
Autority (that which is Divine alwaies
excepted) may as, well cut flame with
his fword , or harden wax in the fun.
3 . T I s true indeed thefc great Di-
ctators do fometimes run down the com-
pany , and carry their Hypothefis with-
out conteft : but of this there may be di-
vers reafons befidcs the weight of their
arguments. Some unfpeculative men may
not have the skil to examine their afler-
tions, and therefore an afTcnt is their fa-
feft courfe; others may be lazy and not
think it worth their pains ; a third fort
may be modeft and awed by a feverc
brow
190 The Government of the Tongue.
brow and an imperious nod : and perhaps
the wifer may providently forefee the im-
pofTibihty of convincing one who thinks
liimfelf not fubjed to error. Upon thefe or
other like grounds 'tis very pofTible all may
be filenced when never a one is convinced:
fo that thefe great Mailers may often
make very falfe efli mates of their con-
quefts , and facr'ifice to their own nets ,
Heb. I. 16. when they have taken no-
thing.
4. Nay indeed this infolent way of
propofmg is fo far from propagating
their notions , that it gives prejudice a-
gainft them. They are the gentle infi-
nuations which pierce , ( as oil is the
moft penetrating of all liquors ; ) but in
thefe Magifterial documents men think
themfelves attackt , and (land upon
their guard , and reckon they muft part
with Honor together with their Opini-
on , if they fuffer themfelves to be He-
<ftor'd out of it. Befides , this impofing
humor is fo unamiable , that it gives an
averfion to the Perfon ; and we know
how forcible perfonal prejudices are ( the
'XAS true they iliould not be ) towards
the bialling of Opinions. Nay indeed
men of tliis temper do cut themfelves
off
Sect. XI. OfToJltivenefs. 1 9 1
off from the opportunities of Profelyting
others , by averting them from their com-
pany. Freedom is the endearing thing
m Society, and where that is control'd,
men are not very fond of affociating
themfelves. 'Tis natural to us to be un-
eafy in the prefence of thofe who af-
fume an Authority over us. Children
care not for the company of their Pa-
rents or Tutors , and men will care lefs
for theirs , who would make them Chil-
dren by ufurping a Tutorage.
5. All thefe inconveniences are c-
vidently confequent to this Dogmati-
T^ing , fuppofing men be never fo much m
the right : but if they happen to be in
the wrong , what a ridiculous pageantry
is it , to fee fuch a Philofophical gravity
fet to man out a Solecifm ? A conclu-
ding Face put upon no concluding Ar-
gument , is the moft contemtible fort
of folly in the world. They do by this
found a trumpet to their own defeat :
and whereas a modeft miflake might
flip by undifcern'd , thefe Rodomontade
errors force tliemfelves upon mens ob-
fervation , and make it as impofTible for
men not to fee , as it is not to dcfpife thcni
when they do. For indeed Pride is as
ill
l^^ The Government of the Tongue.
ill linkt with Error, as wc ufualJyfayit
is with Beggcry, and in this as well asj
that , converts pity into contemt.
6. And then it would be confidered,
what fecurity any man that will be im-
pofing has, that this will not be his
cafe. Human nature is very fallible, and
as it is poffible a man may err in a great
many things , fo *tis certain every man
do's in fomething or other. Now who
knows at the inftant he is fo pofitivc,
but this may be his erring turn? Alas
how frequently are we miftaken even
in common ordinary things ! for as the
Wifeman fpeakcs , hardly do we judg a-
right even in things that are before us ,
Wifd. 9. 16. our very fenfes do fome-
timcs delude us. How then may we wan-
der in things of abflrufe fpeculation ? The
confideration of this hath with feme
fo prevail'd , that it has produc'd a Sed
of Scepticifm : and tho I prefs it not for
that purpofe , yet furc it may reafona-
bly be urged to introduce fome mode-
fly and calmnefs in our alTertions. For
when we have no other certainty of our
being in the right, but our own per-
•fwafions that we are fo: this may often
be but making one error the gage for
an
S E c T . XI. Of Tofitivenefs. 193
another. For God knows confidence is
fo far from a certain mark of truth , that
'tis often the feducer into fallhood , none
being fo apt to lofc their way as thofe
who out of an ungrounded prefumtion
of knowing it, defpife all diredion from
others.
7. Let all this be weighed, and the
refult will be , that this peremtorinefs is
a thing that can befit no form of under-
flanding. It renders Wife men difoWiging
and troublefom, and fools ridiculous
and contemtiblc. It calls a prejudice up-
on the moft folid reafoning , and it ren-
ders the lighter more notorioufly defpi-
cable. 'Tis pity good parts fhould be
leven'd by it , made a fnare to the own-
ers , and ufelefs to others. And 'tis pity
too that weak parts Ihould by itbecon-
demn'd to be alwaies fo, by defpifing thofe
Aids which fiiould improve them. Since
therefore 'tis fo ill calculated for every
Meridian , would God all Climes might
be purged from it.
,8. And as there are weighty obje-
ctions againft it in refpec^ of itsefiefts,
fo there are no inconfiderable prejudice
in relation to its caufes , of which we may
reckon Pride to be the moll certain
B b and
194 The Government of the Tongue.
and univerfal : for what ever elfe cafually
occurs to it , this is the fundamental con-
ftitutive principle ; nothing but a great
overweening of a mans own underftand-
ing being able to inflate him in that ima-
ginary empire over other mens. For here
fure we may ask the Apollles queftion ,
JV/jo made thee to differ from another'^
When God has made Rationality the
common portion of mankind, how came
it to be thy inclofure ? or what Signa-
ture has he fet upon thine, what
mark of excellence , that thine Ihould be
paramount ? Doubtlefs if thou fancieft,
thou hafl: that part oi Jacobs blefling , Ta
be Lord of thy brethren , and that all thy
mothers fins should bow down to thee ,
Gen. X7.X9. thou hafl got it more furrep-
titioufly then he did , and with lefs efTeft ;
for tho Ifaac could not retrafl his mis-
taken benediction , God will never ra-
tify that fantaflic , thou hafl pronounc-
ed to thy felf , wath his real! efi'ecftive
one.
9. B u T there happens many times
to be another ingredient befides Pride ,
and that is Ignorance : for thofe qualities
however they may feem at war , do of-
ten very clofely combine.Hc who has nar-
row
S E c T. XI. Of Tofitivenefs, i ^ ^
row notions, that knows but a few
things , and has no glimpfe of any be-
yond him, thinks tliere are no fuch:
and therefore as if he had ( hke A-
lexander) no want but that of worlds to
conquer, he thinks himfelf theabfolute
Monarch of all knowledg. And this is of
all others the moll unhappy compofiti-
on : for ignorance being of its felf like
ftifrclay,^an infertile foile, when Pride
comes to fcorch and harden it, it grows
perfectly impenetrable : and accordingly
we fee none are fbinconvincibleasyour
half-witted people; who know juft e-
nough to excite their pride , but not fo
much as to cure their ignorance.
io« There remains yet a x'^kind of
Peremtorincfs which I am to fpeak to ,
and that is of thofe who can make no
relation without an atteftation of its cer-
tainty : a fort of hofpitable people , who
entertain all the idle vagrant reports,
and fend them out with pafsports and
teflimonials , who when they have once
adopted a (lory, will have itpafsfor le-
gitimate how fpurious foever it original-
ly was. Thefe fomewhat refemble thofe
Hofpitals in Italy , where all baflards are
fure of reception , and fuch a provifion
Bb i as
1 96 The Government of the Tongue,
as may enable them to fubfift in the world:
and were it not for fuch men , many a Fa-
therlefs lie would be ftiflcd iw irs birth.
It is indeed flrange to fee , how fuddenly
loofe rumors knit into formal ftories,
and from thence grow to certainties; but
'tis flranger to fee that men can be of
fuch protligated impudence , as knowing-
ly to give them that advance. And yet
'tis no rarity to meet with fuch men who
will pawn their honor , their fouls , for
that unworthy purpofe: nay and that
too with as much impertinence as bafe-
nefs , when no intereft of their own , or
perhaps any mans elfe is to be ferved
by it.
10. This is fo prodigious a thing,
as feems to excite ones Curiofity to in-
quire the caufe of fo wonderful an efFe^t.
And here, as in other unnatural produ-
iftions , there are feveral concurrents. If
we trace it from its original , its firft E-
lement feems to be Idlenefs : this di-
verting a man from ferious ufeful enter-
tainments, forces him upon (the ufual
refuge of vacant Perfons ( the inquiring
after News; which when he has got , the
venting of it is his next bufinefs. If he
be of a credulous Nature, and believe
it
S E c T. XI . Of Tofitivenefs. 197
it himfelf , he do's the more innocently
impofe it on others : yet then to fecure
himfelf from the imputation of Levity
and too eafy Faich, he is often tor aed
to lend fome probable circumftance. Nay
if he be of a proud humor , and have that
mifera'-'le vanity of loving to fpeak big,
and to be thought a man of greater cor-
refpondence and intelligence then his
Neighbors , he will not bate an Ace of
abfolute certainty ; but however doubt-
foul or improbable the thing is , coming
from him it muft go for an indifputable
truth. This feems to be the defcent of
this unhappy folly , which yet is often
nurd up by a mean or imprudent Edu-
cation. A man that hath converflonly
with that lower fort of company , who
durft not difpute his veracity , thinks the
fame falfc Coin will pafs over the world ,
which went currant among his Fathers
Servants or Tenants: and therefore we
may obferve that this is moft ufuall in
young men, who have come raw into
company with good fortunes and ill
breeding. But it is too true alfo that too
many never lofe that habit , but are as
morofely pofitive in their Age, as they
were childiihly fo in their Youth. In-
deed
1^8 The Government of the Tongue.
deed 'tis impoflible they Ihould be o-
therwife, unlefs they have the wit to
difentangle themfelves firft from the love
of Flattery , and after from the compa-
ny of Flatterers : for ( as I have before
obferv*d ) no vice will ever wither un-
der their fliade. I think I ihall jdo the
Reader no ill office to let in a little light
upon them, and ihew him fomc of
thofe many mifchiefs that attend this
unworthy pra<ftice.
I X. F I RST , it engages a man to Oaths ,
and for ought he knows to Perjuries.
When he has lancht out boldly into an
incredible relation , he thinks he has put
his Credit upon the forlorn hope , and
mufl take care to relieve it : and there
is no fuccor fo conflantly ready at hand
as that of Oaths and imprecations , and
therefore whole vollies of them are dif-
charged upon the doubtful. Thus do
we make God a witnefs , and our Souls
parties in the caufe of every trifling ru-
mor, as if we had model'd our Divini-
ty by the Scheme of that Jefuitical Ca-
fuift , who legitimates the Killing of a •
man for an Apple.
13. A fecond mifchief is, that it be-
traies man to quarrels. He that is
percm-
i
S E c T. XI. Of Tofit'tvenefs. 19^
peremtory in his own Story , may meet
with another that is as peremtory in
the conrradidion of it, and then the
two Sr. Tqfitives mufl have a skirmifti
indeed. He that has attefted the truth
of a falfe , or the certainty of a doubt-
ful thing , has brought himfelf into the
fame flrait with Baalams Afs , he muft
cither fall down flat , or run upon a fword ,
Num. 22. 27. For if his Hearers do but
exprefs a diffidence , either he muft fmk
to a down-right Confeflion that he was
a Liar: or elfe he muft huff and blufter
till perhaps he raife a counter- ftorm ,
and as he fool'd himfelf out of his truth,
fo be beaten our of his pretence to it.
Indeed there is fcarce any quality that
do's fo temt and invite affronts as this
do's : for he that can defcend to fuch a
meannefs , may reafonably enough be
prefumed to have little ( as of true worth ,
fo) even of that which the world calls
Gallantry, and fo every puny fword-
man will think him a good tame Quar-
ry to enter and fleih himfelf upon.
14. In the third place it expofeshim
to all the contemt and fcorn which ei-
ther good or ill men can fling upon him:
the good abominate the fm , the ill tri-
umph
aoo The Government of the Tongue.
umph over the folly of it. The truth is
there can be nothing; more wretchedly
mean. To be Knight of the Pod to every
fabulous relation , is fuch a fordid thing ,
that there can fcarce be any name of re-
proch too vile for it. And certainly
he that can pawn his faith upon fuch mi-
ferable terms, will by thofe frequent mort^
gages quickly be fnapt upon a forfeiture ;
or however will have his credit fo im-
par'd by it, that no man will think his
word a competent gage for the flighteft
concern.
15-. And this may pafs for a fourth
confideration , That this Pofitivenefs is
fo far from gaining credit to his pre-
fcnt affirmation , that it deftroies it for
the future : for he that fees a man make
no difference in the confidence of his af-
ferting realities and fictions , can never
take his mefures by any thing heavers,
but according to the com.mon Proverb ,
will be in danger of disbelieving him e-
ven when he fpeaks truth. And of this
no man can want convi<ftion , who will
but confult his own obfervation. For
what an allay do we find it to the credit
of the mofl probable event , that it is re-
ported by one who ufes to flretch ? Thus
un-
S E c T. XI. OfToJitivenefs. 2,01
unhappily do fuch men defeat their own
defigns : for while they aver floutly
that they may be believed , that very
thing makes them doubted, the world
being not now to learn how frequently
Confidence is made a fupplement for
Truth. Nor let any man who ufes this ,
flatter himfelf that he alone do's (hke
Jobs meffenger) efcape the common fate :
for tho perhaps he meet with fomewho
in civility or pity will not difpute the
probability of his narrations , or with
others who for raillery will not difcou-
rage the humor with, which theym.can
(in his abfcnce) to divert themfelves ,
yet he may reft affur'd he is difcern'dby
all , and derided for it.
16. It therefore concerns men who
either regard their truth , or their reputa-
tion , nor to indulge to this humor , which
is the mod filly way of fliipwracking '
both. For he that will lay thofe to flake
upon every flying ftory,may as well wager
his eftatc which way the wind will fit
next morning , there being nothing lefs to
be confided in, then the breath of fame,
or the whifpers of private tale-bearers.
Wife men arc afraid to report improba-
ble truths : what a fool-hardinels is it
C c then
xoz The Government of the Tongue.^
then to atteft improbable falfities , as it
often is the luck ofthefe Pofitive men to
do?
17. Certainly there is nothing
which they defign by this, which may
not be obtain'd more efFe(^ually by a
modeft and unconcern'd relation. He
that barely relates what he has heard ,
and leaves the hearer to judg of the pro-
bability , do's as much ( I am fure more
civilly ) entertain the company , as
he that throws down his gauntlet in at-
teflation. He as much fatisfies the itch
of telling news ; he as much perfwades
his hearers ; nay very much more ( for
thefe over earnell aflcverations ferve but
to give men fufpicion that the Speaker
is confcious of his own falfenefs: ) and all
this while he has his retreat fecure , and
(lands not refponfible for the truths of his
relation. Nay indeed tho men fpeak
never fo known and certain truths , 'tis
molladvifablcnot to prefs them too im-
portunately. For boldnefs , like the Bra-
voes and Banditti , is feldom emploied
but upon defpcrate fervices , and is fo
known a Pander for lying, that truth
is but defam'd by its attendance.
18. To conclude, modefty is fo amia-
ble
Sect. XI. OfToJitivenefs. xo 3
ble , fo infmuating a thing , that all the
rules of Oratory cannot help men to a
more agreeable ornament of difcourfe.
And if they will try it in both the fore-
going inftances , they will undoubtedly
find the effeiHis of it ; a modeft propofal
will fooneft captivate mens reafons , and a
modeft relation their belief
Cc X Sect.
ao4 The Government of the Tongue.
Sect. XII.
Of Ohfiene Talk:
I. T"^ HERE is another vice of the
X Tongue which I cannot but men-
tion , tho I knew not in which of the for-
mer ClafTes to place it: not that it comes
under none , but that 'tis fo common to
all, that 'tis not eafytorefolvetowhich
peculiarly to afTign it , I mean obfcene
and immodefl talk , which is ofFenfive
to the purity of God , dammageable and
infectious to the innocence of our Neigh-
bors , and mod pernicious to ourfelves :
and yet is now grown a thing fo com-
mon , that one would think we were
fallen into an Age of Metamorphofis ,
and that the Brutes did , not only Poe-
tically and in fiftion, but really fpeak.
For the talk of many is fo beflial , that
it feems to be but the conceptions of the
more libidinous Animals clothed in hu-
man Language.
i. A N D yet even this mufl pafs for
Ingenuity , and this vile defcent below
Hu-
Sect. XII. Of Obfcene Talk. ro^
Humanity, muft be counted among the
higheft ftreins of Wit. A wretched de-
balement of that fprightful Faculty , thus
to be made the interpreter to a Goat
or Boar: for doubtlefs had thofe Crea-
tures but the organs of Speech , their
Fancies he enough that way to make
them as good company, as thofe who
more ftudioufly apply themfelves to this
fort of entertainment.
3. The crime is comprehenfive e-
noLigh to afford abundance of matter for
the mofb Satyrical zeal : but I confider
the diffefting of putrid Bodies may caft
fuch peftilential fumes , as all the benefits
of the fcrutiny will not recompence. I
fliall therefore in refped: to the Reader
difmifs this noifome Subjeft , and thereby
give an example with what abhorrence
he ihould alwaies rejeft fuch kind of dif-
courfe, remcmbring the advice of St.
^aiil. That all tine leannefs should not be
once named among thofe 'who would walk
as becometh Saints, Eph. 5-. 3.
The
xo6 The Government of the Tongue.
The Clofe.
I. T Have now touched upon thofe e-
X normities of Speech which I prin-
cipally defign d to obferve , v/herein
I have bin far from making a full and ex-
a(^ Catalogue : therefore I would have
no man take this little Tradl for a juft
Criterion, by which to try himfelf in
reference to his words. Yet God grant
that all that read it , may be able to ap-
prove themfelves even by this imperfeft
eflay : and he that do's fo , makes fair
appro ches towards being that f erf e£f man
St. y^w^J fpeaks of , chap. 3. i. Thcfe
being fuch faults of the Tongue as arc
the harder to avoid, becaufe they are e-
very day exemplified to us in common
pracl:ice , ( nay fome of them recommend-
ed as reputable and ingenious. ) And it is
a ftrange infmuative power which exam-
ple and cuftom have upon us. We fee
it in every trivial fecularinftance, in our
very habit : thofe dreffes which we laughc
at in our forefathers wardrobes or pi-
d:ures , when by the circulation of time
and vanity they are brought about , we
think very becoming. *Tis the fame in
our I
The Clofe. 107
our diet : our very palates conform to
the falhion , and every thing grows a-
miable to our fancies , according as 'tis
more or lefs received in the world. And
upon this account all fobriety and ftri^l
vertue lies now under a heavy prejudice ,
and no part of it more , then this of the
Tongue , which cuftom has now enfran-
chized from all the bonds Moralifts or
Divines had laid upon it.
2. But the greater the difficulties are,
the more it ought to awake our diligence :
if we lie loofe and carelefly , 'ris odds we
ihall be carried away with the flream.
We had need therefore fix our felves , and
by a fober recoUedlion of the ends for
which our Speech was given us, and the
account we mufl one day give of it, im-
prefs upon our felves the bafenefs and
the danger of mifemploying it. Yet a
negative innocence will not fervc our
turns, 'twill but put us in the condition
of him , "oi'ho wrapt up the talent he was
commanded to employ , Mat. t./^. z^. Nay in-
deed 'twill be impoffible to preferve e-
ven that if we afpire no farther. The
Tongue is abufie active Part , will fcarcc
be kept from motion : and therefore if
that a(5livity be not determined to good
objefts
io8 The Government of the Tongue.
objecfls , 'twill be pracflicing upon bad.
And indeed I believe a great part of its
licentioufnefs is owing to this very thing.
There are fo few good themes of diif-
courfe in ufe , that many are driven to
the ill for want of better. Learning is
thought Pedantic , Agriculture Peafant-
like , and Religion the moft infuffe table of
all : fo by excluding all ufefuU fubjecls of
converfe,we come together as St. Taul{\\\
another cafe ) faies , Not for the better but
for the worfe, i. Cor. 1 1. 17. And if the
Philofopher thought he had loft that day
werein he had not learnt fomething
worthy his notice , how many daies do
we worfe then lofe , by having them
not only emty of folid ufeful acquifiti-
ons , but full of noxious and pernicious
ones ? And indeed if they be the one ,
they will not mifs to be the other alfo :
for the mind is like the ftomac , which if
it be not fupplied with wholefome nu-
rilhment , will at laft fuck in thofe humors
with which the body moft abounds. So
that if in our converfe we do not inter-
change fober ufefuU notions , we fhall at
the beft but traftique toies and baubles ,
and moft commonly infedion and poi-
fon. He therefore that would keep his
tons^e
The Clofi. X09
tongue, from betraying himfelf or others
to fin , muft tunc it to a quite contrary-
Key, make it aninftrument, and incen-
tive to vertue , by which he iliall not
only fecure the negative part of his duty ,
but comply with the pofitive alfo , in em-
ploying it to thofe ufes for which it was
given him.
3. It would be too vaft an underta-
king to prefcdbe the particular fubjeds of
fuch difcourfe , nay indeed impoffible , be-
caufe many of them are occasional , fucli
as cannot aforehand be reduced to any
certain account. This only in the general
we may reft upon , that all fpeech tending
to the Glory of God or the good of man ,
is aright direfted. Which is not to be un-
derftood fo reftridlively , as if nothing but
Divinity or the neceffary concerns of hu-
man life , may lawfully be brought into
difcourfe : fomething is to be indulged to
common civility , more to the intimaces
and endearments of fricndfhip , and a
competency to thofe recreative difcourfcs
which maintain the chercfulnefs of focie-
ty; all which are, if moderatly ufed ,
\vithin the latitude of the rule , as tend-
ing (tho in a low cr degree) to the well-
b<cing of m.cn, and by cotjfcquenttothe
D d ho-
^Io The Government of the Tongue.
honoi:ofGod, who indulges us thofe in-
nocent refrelhments. But if the fubordi-
nate ufes come to encroch upon the high-
er, if we dwell here and look no farther ,
they then become very finful by the ex-
eefs , which were not fo in their nature.
That inordinacy fets them in oppofition to
Gods defignation , in which they were al-
lowed only a fecondary place. We lliould
therefore be careful! to improve all oppor-
tunities of letting our tongues pay their
more immediate homage to God , in the
duties of praiers and praifes , making
them not only the interpreters of our '
pious afFedions , but the promoters of
the like in others. And indeed he can
fcarce be thought in earneft , who praies y
Hallowed be thy name, and do's not as
much endeavor it with men, as he foUicites
it from God.
4. A N D if we anfvver our obligations
in this point , we fhall in it difcharge the
higheft part of our duty to man alfo: for in
whofe heart foever we can implant a true
reverential aw of God , we fow the ktd
of immortality , of an endlefs happy be-
ing , the greateft the mod fuperlative good
whereof he is capable. Befides in the in-
terim , we do by it help to manumit and
re-
. The Clofe, ^II
releafe liim from thofefervile drudgeries
to vice, under which thofe remain who
liwQ without God in the world. And thefe
indeed are benefits worthy the dignity of
human nature to communicate. And it is
both fad and flrange to fee among the
multitude and variety of Leagues that are
<:ontrad:ed in the world , how few there
are ofthefe pious combinations;how thofe
who ilicvv themfelves concern'd in all the
petty fecular interefts of their friends , ne-
ver take this at all into their care ; a pre-
gnant evidence how little true friendlhip
there is among men.
5". I know fome think they fufficient-
iy excufe themfelves when they Ihift off
this office to Divines , whofe peculiar
bufinefs they fay it i-s. But this is as if
one who fees a poor fainting wretch ,
fhould forbear to adminifter a Cordial
he has at hand , for fear of intrenching
on the Phyficians Faculty. Many op-
portunities a Friend or Companion may
have which a Divine may want. He of-
ten fees a man in the very fit , and fo
may more aptly apply : for w here there
is an intimacy of Converfe, men lay
themfelves open , difcover thofe pafTions ,
thofe vices, whichtheycarefully veilwhen
D d X a
aix The Government of the Tongue.
a ftrange , or feverer eie approches. Be-
fides , as fuch a one may eafier difcern
the difeafe, fo he has better advantages
for adminiftring remedies : fo Children
will not take thofe Medicines from the
Doctors hand , w hich they will from a
Nurfe or Mother : and we are ufually
too Childifli in what relates to our Souls ;
look on good counfel from an Ecclefi-
aftic as a Divinity Potion , and fet our
ftomacs againftit; but a Familiar may
infenfibly infinuate it into us, and ere
we are aware beguile us into health. Yet
if Lay Perfons will needs give the Cler-
gy the inclofure of this office , they fhould
at lead withdraw thofe impediments they
have laid in their way, by depofiting
thofe prejudices which will certainly fru-
flrate their endeavor. Men have inthefe
later daies bin taught to look on Preach-
ing as a thing of form to the Hearers , and
of profit only to the Speakers , a craft
whereby, ^.'ii T^emetrms {2X0,%^ hey get their
living. a61s 16. x^. But admit it were
fo in this lafl refped , yet it do's not in-
fer it fhould be fo in the former. If it
be a Trade, 'twas fure thought (as in all
Ages but this) averyufefulone , or elfe
there would never have bin fuch incou-
ragement
The Clofe. 213
ragement given to it. No flate ever allot-
ed public certain Salaries for a fet of
Men that were thought utterly ufelefs ;
and if there be ufe to be made of them ,
fhall wc lofe our advantages merely be-
caufe they gain theirs ? We are in nothing
elfe fo fenfeiefs , no man will refufe coun-
fel from a Phyfician , becaufe he lives by
the Profefiion. 'Tis rather an argument
on his fide, that becaufe fuch an intereft
of his own depends on it , he has bin the
more induflrious to fithimfelfforit. But
not to run farther in this digreflion , I
ihall apply it to my purpofe , by ma-
king this equitable propofal , that Lay
men will not fo morahze the common
Fable , as neither to admonifh one another
themfelves, nor fuifer Miniflers to do it
without them. And truly 'tis hard if nei-
ther of thefe can be granted when both
ought. I am fure all is little enough that
can be don , tho we fliould have , as the
Prophet fpeaks, Trecept upon precept, Line
upon Line , here a little and there a little ^{,
18. 13. Mans nature is fo unattentive
to good , that there can fcarce be too ma-
ny monitors. Wc fee Satan tho he have
a much flronger party in our inclina-
tions, dares not rely upon it , butisftill
em-
XI4 The Government of the Tongue.
employing his emiflaries , to confirm and
excite them : and if whilft he has fo ma-
ny Agents among us, God Ihall have
none, we are hke to give but an ill account
of our zeal either to God or our neigh-
bor, or of thofe tongues which were gi-
ven us to glorify the one , and benefit
the other. Indeed without this , our great-
eft officioufnefs in the fecular concerns of
others is no kindnefs. Whenweftrivcto
advance the fame , to increafe the fortune
of a wicked man , what do we in it , but
enable him to do the more mifchiefs , by
his wealth to foment his own luxuries,and
by his reputation commend them to the
practice of others ? He only makes his
friend truly rich and great, who teaches
him to employ thofe advantages aright :
and would men turn their tongues to this
fort of Oratory , they would indeed fhew
they underftood for what ends they were
given them.
6. But as all good receives enhance-
ment from its being more difiiiiive , fo
thefe attemts ihould not be confined to
fome one or two intimates or relatives ,
but be as extenfive as the common needs,
or at leaft as our opportunities. *Tis a ge-
nerous ambition to benefit many, toob-
TheClofe. zi^
lige communities: which can no wayfo
well be don , as by endeavoring to fubvert
vicious cuftoms , which are the pefts and
poifons of all focieties. The heathens had
many ceremonies of luftrations for their
cities and countries , but he that could pu-
rify and refine their manners , would in-
deed attain to the fubftance of thofe Iha-
dows. And becaufe the Apoftle tells us , that
Evil 'ui'ords corrupt good manners, i Cor.i 5.
3 3 .'twould be a fundamental piece of refor-
mation , to introduce a better fort of con-
vcrfe into the world : which is an inflance
fo agreable to my prefentfubjed:, that I
cannot Clofe more pertinently, then to
commend the endeavor to the Reader;
who if he have bin by this Tra(5l at all
convinced of the fm'and mifchief of thofe
Schemes of difcourfe deciphered init,can-
not be more juft to his convidions,thenby
attemting to fiipplant them.
7. It were indeed a defign worthy
of a noble foul , to try to new model
the Age in this particular, to make it
pofliblc for men to be at once conver-
fable and innocent. I know 'twill be ob-
je(n:ed, 'tis too vail a projed: for one or ma-
ny fmglePerfons to undertake: yet diffi-
culties ufe to animate generous fpints,
efpe»
%i6 The Government of the Tongue
efpecially when ( as here ) the very attemt
is laudable. But as Chnjl faies of Wif-
dom , fo may we of Courage , The Chil-
dren of this world are more daring then
the Children of light. The great cor-
rupters of difcourfe have not bin fo dif-
truflful of themfelves : for 'tis vifibleto
any that will refledV , that 'tis within mans
memory fmce much of this monftrous
exorbitancy of difcourfe grew in fafhion ,
particularly the Atheiftical and Blafphe-
mous. The firfl propugners of it were
but few , and durft then but whifper their
black rudiments: yet the world now fees
what a harvefl they, have from their de-
viliih induftry. vhh^
ji/:8. And Ihall we give over our Clime
as forlorn and defperate, and conclude
that nothing which is not venemous will
thrive in our Soil ? Would fome of parts
and autority but make the experiment , I
cannot think that all places are yet fo vi-
tiated, but that they may meet with ma-
ny v who would relilh fober and ingenu-
ous, difcourfe, and by their example bea-
nimated to propagate it to others: but as
long as Blafpheray ,- Ribaldry , and De-
tiraction fet up for Wit > , and carry It witlv
omJai'ty^^jompetitiOfl^ we do implicitly
-c 'd yield
The Clofe. 117
yield that title we difpute not : and 'tis
hard to fay, whether their triumphs be
more owing to the boldnefs of ill men ,
or the pufillanimityof thegood. What if
upon the trial they fliould meet with the
worfer part of St. Tanls fate at Athens ,
Thatfome will mock , Adsi7.3x. yet per-
haps they may partake of the better alfo ,
and find others that would be wiWmgto
bear them again, and fome few at Id^may
cleave unto them. And fure they are too
tender and delicate , that will run no ha-
zard, nor be willing to bear a little fliare
in that profane drollery, with which an A-
poflle was , and their God is daily afTault-
ed:efpecially when by this expofing them-
felvcs , they may hope to give fome check
to that impious liberty. However be-
fides the fatisfa^tion of their own confci-
cnces , they may alfo gain this advanrage
by the attemt , that it may be a good tefl
by which to try their company. For
thofe whom they find impatient of in-
nocent and profitable converfe, they
may affure themfelvcs can only enfnare
not benefit them; and he is a very weak
Gamefter , that will be drawn to play up-
on fuch terms as make it highly pro-
bable for him to lofe , but impofllble for
E e him
X 1 8 The Government of the Tongue.
him to win. Therefore in that cafe the
advice oi Solomon is very proper , Go from
the ^re fence of a foolish man , ivhen thou
ferceivefi not in him the li^s of Knoijuledg ,
Prov. 14. 7.
9. But he that will undertake fo He-
roic an enterprize , muft qualify himfelf
for it, by being true to his ownpreten-
fions. He muft leave no uneven thred in
his loom , or by indulging to any one
fort of reprovable difcourfe himfelf, de-
feat • all his endeavors againft the reft.
Thofe aery Speculators that have writ
of the Philofophers Stone , have requi-
red many Perfonall qualifications, ftri^t
abftinences and purities ws. thofe who
make the experiment. The thing may
have this fober application , that thofe
who would turn this Iron Age into Gold ,
that would convert our ruftydrofiy Con-
verfe into a purer ftrein , muft be per-
feiflly clean themfelves. For alas what
efFeA can that man hope from his moft
zealous reprehenfions , who laies himfelf
open to recrimination ? He that hears a
man bitterly inveigh againft blafphemy
and profanenefs , and ( yet in that almoft the
fame breath ) hears his monitor inveigh as
bitterly againft his Neighbor , will fcarce
think
The Clofe. xi^
think him a good guide of his tongue ,
that has but half the maftery of his own.
Let every man therefore be fure to begin
at the right end of his work, to walh
his own mouth clean » before he pre-
fcribe Gargarifms to others. Andtothat
purpofe let him impartially refled: on all
the undue liberties he has given his
tongue , whether thofe w^hich have bin
here remarked , or thofe others which he
may find in all Practical books , efpeci-
ally in ( the mod practical of all books )
his own Confcience. And when he has
trac d his talk thro all its wild rambles, let
him bring home his ftray ; not like the loft
Iheep with joy , but w ith tears of peni-
tence and contrition , and keep a ftric^
watch over it that break not loofe again;
nay farther require it to make fome refti-
tution for the trefpafs it has committed
in its former excurfions : to reftore to
God what it has rob'dof his Honor , by
devoting it felf an inftrument of his fer-
vice ; to his Neighbor what it has de-
trafted from him , by wiping off that ful-
lage it has caft upon his Fame ; and to
himfelf by defacing thofe ill Characters
of vanity and folly it has imprinted on
him. Thus may the Tongue cure its own
Ee i fting
xxo The Goverament of the Tongue.
fling , and by a kind of Sympathetic ver-
tue , the wound may be healed by drefling
the weapon. But alas when we have don
all, the Tongue is foflippery that it will
often be in danger to deceive our watch:
nay it has a fecret intelligence with the
heart, which like a corrupted Goaler is too
apt to connive at its efcape. Let us there-
fore (trengthen our guards , call in him
who fees all the fecret pra<^iccs of our
trecherous hearts , and commit both them
and our tongues to his cuflody. Let us fay
with the Pfalmifl, Try ?ne,0 Lord,andfeek
the ground of?/ty heart , Pfa.ii9. x3 . And
with him again , Set a la'atcb , O Lord , be-
fore my Tfiouth , and keep the door ofwy lips ,
O let not my heart be in c lined to any evil
thing , Pfa. 141 . 3. And \{hands thmjo'm in
hand ^ Prov. 16.5-, if Gods grace be hum-
bly invoked , and our own endeavour ho-
neftly emploied, even x\\\s unruly evil oi
the Tongue (as S.James calls it) Chap.
3. 8. may be u\ fome degree tamed. If
now and then it get a little out by ftealth ,
yet it will not like the Demoniac be fo
raving , as quite to break all its chains.
If we cannot alwaies fccure our felves
from inadvertence and furprize, but
that a forbidden word may fomtimes e-
fcape
The Clofe. zxi
fcape us, yet we may from deliberate will-
full offences of the Tongue. And tho
we Ihould all afpire higher , yet if we can
but reach this, we ought not to excufe
our felves (upon remaining infirmities)
from the Chriftian generous underta-
king, I was recommending, the reform-
ing of others. Indeed 1 had made a very
impertinent exhortation to that , if this
degree of fitnefs may not be admitted;
for I fear there would be none upon earth
could attemt it upon other terms: the
world muil ftill remain as ir is , and await
only the Tongues of Angels to reduce it.
Nor need we fear that cenfure of Hypo-
crify which we find , Mat. 7. 5". for the
cafe is very differing. *Tis indeed as
ridiculous as infolent an attemt, for
one that has a Beam in his own eie,
to pretend to cad a Mote out of his bro-
thers : but it holds not on the contra-
ry , that he that has a Mote in his own,
ihould not endeavor to remove the
Beam in his Brothers. Every fpeck do's
not blind a man , nor do's every infir-
mity make one unable todifcern, or in^
competent to reprove the grofler faults
of others.
lo Y^%
axi The Government of the Tongue.
lo. Yet after all let us as much as is
pofTible clear our eies even of this mote,
and make our Copy as worth tranfcri-
bing as we can: for certainly the beflin-
llrument of reformation is example : and
tho admonition may fometimes be ne-
cefTary , yet there are many circumflan-
ces required to the right ordering of that ,
fo that it cannot alwaies be practicable ,
but a good example ever is. Befides it has
a fecret magnetic vertue : like the Load-
llone it attrads by a power of which we
can give no account : fo that it feems to
be one of thofe occult quahties , thofe
fecrets in nature, which have puzled the
enquirers , only experience demonftrates
it to us. I am fure it do's ( too abundant-
ly ) in ill examples , and I doubt not ,
might do the like in good , if they were as
plentifully experimented. And that they
may be fo , let every man be ambitious
to caft in his mite : for tho two make
but a fanhing , yet they may be multipli-
ed to the vafteft fum. However if a man
cannot reform others , yet I am fure 'twill
be worth his while , fo lofave himfelffrom
this itritoward generation ^ Ad:, x. 40. I
have now prefented the Tongue under a
double
The Clofe. xi5
double afped , fucli as may juftify the an-
cient Definition of it , that it is the word
and beft part of man , the bed in its ori-
ginal and defign , and the word in its cor-
ruption and degeneration. In David the
man after Gods heart it was his glory ,Pfal.
57.8. The beft member that he had; Pfal.
108. I. But hi the 'wicked it cuts like a
sharp Razor , Pfal. x 5- . 2 . Tis as the venem
of Afps 140. 3. The Tongues from hea-
ven were Cloven Acft. x. x. to be the more
difFufive of good : but thofe that 2X& fired
from hell are forked , Jam. 3 . 6. to be the
more impreffive of mifchief: it mud be
referred to every mans choice , into which
of the forms he will mold his. Solomon
tells us T)eath and Life are in the fewer of
the Tongue , and that not only dire(fl:ly in
res;ard of the good or ill we may do to
others , but reflexively alfo , in refpecft of
what may rebound to our felves. Let Mo-
fes then make the inference from Solo-
mons premifes , Therefore chu/e life , Deut.
30. 15". a propofal fo reafonable, fo a-
greable to nature , that no floriflies can
render it more inviting. I fhall therefore
leave it to the Readers contemplation ,
and Ihall hope that if he pleafe but to
revolve
XX4 The Government of the Tongue.
revolve it with that ferioufnefs which
the importance exacts , he will new fet
his tongue , compofc it to thofe pious
Divine ftreins , which may be a proper
prcludium to thofe Allelujahs he hopes
eternally to fing.
FINIS.
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